I can’t think which is more delicious: Trump watching Giuliani pretending the new clothes are fabulous, or Trump falling all over himself bewildered that the country that manufactures his branded line is telling him basically to pound sand.
1
Trump’s only ability is to Tweet and Retreat. His mornings would be better spent with his family than with Fox.
That's it for tonight, please join us next week when Trump will show us how he invented the wheel.
It's always fascinating to see when people do not understand anything believe that they just found something so new that no one has ever seen or heard of it, except those that used it for ages.
The same with Chinese trade, all these papers will not change much unless the US will be able to produce something the Chinese will really buy.
It's the economy and something called free market stupid!
It's what happens when you elect a guy that is well versed in bankruptcy and not much more. Oh, and not paying his bills..........
4
China agrees to import 10,000 Make America Great Again hats. Trump declares trade negotiations a success.
3
However flawed Trump's bravado, he is a master in self-admiration and usually demanding applause before conceding that a pause is required to re-think his barbaric off-the-cuff remarks. China knows how to pocket a narcissist, and bend his vacuous remarks to advantage. China will also play Trump's allegiance to his private business lurking abroad, and play the game. Although corruption is a universal practice, Trump could teach others how it's done with panache.
1
Trump's strategy is working much better than his predecessors. China is under the gun and will make changes. The next stop for Trump and his team will be Japan, which is America's only other trading partner which arguably has an even more closed domestic market than China. America's annual trade deficit of USD 70 Billion with Japan is its second largest next only to China.
Last year, the head of Ford called Japan the most closed market in the world. The American Automotive Policy Council's report, "How Japan has Maintained The Most Protected and Closed Auto Market In the Industrialized World" explains how Japan has perfected the art of using non-tariff barriers to keep its markets closed and why it ranks 30th out of 30 OECD countries in measuring access for imported autos.
The story is the same in other sectors as well. For example, Japan imposes extremely high tariffs on many American agricultural products, including tariffs of as much as: 50 percent on processed beef products, 24 percent on poultry, 40 percent on dairy products, 661 percent on whey, 32 percent on fruit, 43 percent on juices, 1,000 percent on vegetables and pulses, 250 percent on wheat, 255 percent on barley, 21 percent on soybean oil, 600 percent on peanuts, 26 percent on processed products like coffee and 778 percent on rice.
America needs to start asserting its interests more strongly and get Japan to open its markets to U.S. companies by negotiating a fair and free bilateral trade agreement.
So now we're blaming Trump for standing up to the Chinese for trading illegally and without conscience? Tweets or not? Obama did nothing. Obviously the democrats and the liberals are not businessmen, have no experience in this regard and cannot manage this economic issue. I predict that the imbalance of trade in the global economy will be the makings of World War III.
What happened to "America First"? And I just read from Trump HIM SELF that China will BUY all our food. What will WE eat?
So let's just contextualize this for a moment: President Trump is defending the White House's approach to "resolving a trade war."
We must remember that the whole "trade war" was, in fact, started by President Trump - against the advice of advisors, economists, and most commentators across the political and business spectrum. Trump lacks the patience and sheer will to understand America's complex position vis-a-vis trade with China, and the way American industry has evolved to meet the transforming global trade paradigm over the past thirty years. Instead, he is stuck peddling a simplistic political slogans, failing to grasp the reality.
America will walk away from this self-inflicted trade war in a less advantageous position than it began. But more important than the dollars and cents that will be lost, will be the psychological dimension: China will realize that it can take on the US and win in the area of global diplomacy, influence, and trade.
4
Of course. He simply declares success with whatever the does. It is ridiculous. Let's get rid of him and put somebody competent in the U.S. Presidency.
4
I'm amazed that day-to-day, week-to -week we act as if this is a normal administration doing business while learning the ropes.
Hey, it ain't!
This is a not-too-bright, would-be-dictator heading toward his ultimate dream, commandeering a nation to benefit himself and his family.
Vote the Republicans out with extreme prejudice for allowing this garbage. History will not look kindly on this period.
10
The NYT is doing much good work but is critically hampered by the error you describe. After Rudy G spends two weeks telling lies that he contradicts or disproves himself the next day, the Times will still give his latest lie a headline and a front-page article. Same here.
1
Go home spoiled little boy, you are so over your head. Let the real policy experts work this out before you destroy our Republic and its people with you selfish incompetence.
8
Even if one takes the leap to believe an inveterate liar, Trump, or his oligarchic cabinet, America loses big time. Taken at face value, the US has shown itself to be an undependable party in negotiations about trade with partners and competitors alike. Just as we have seen with jeopardizing Americans' security via the agreement holding Iran in check, treaties with military allies (NATO), and the Paris climate agreement, there is increasingly no reason for any foreign power to attempt to deal with the radical America First crowd. On the other hand, China continues its quiet momentum, displacing the US as the ally of choice throughout much of the world.
4
He is doing it all on Purpose. His Purpose is to ruin the USA.
John Pomfret (journalist, author, and expert on China), in his Nov. 2016 interview with this publication, best described the pattern of the China/US relation can as "rapturous enchantment followed by despair". History suggests that's likely to continue.
1
Is the trade war with China just a covert way to get money to
build Trump products?
4
Trump has delusions of grandeur - went bankrupt multiple times, Trump Airlines gone,Trump steaks (LOL!) gone, Trump University-had to settle a class action lawsuit for $25 million - "The Art of the Deal" - scamming contractors he hired and refused to pay, canceled tariffs on the EU and Canada because they threaten retaliation. And now he thinks he can bring China to its knees? Get real, Donald Trump!!!!
9
Whatever possessed this windbag to think himself “king of the deal?” He’s shown no ability to pick a position, back it up with facts m, stick with it, and stay on message, with his own team, let alone everyone else.
11
"President Trump defended his administration’s approach to resolving a trade war with China in a series of tweets Monday,..."
Are we ever going to get anything resembling a press conference with a question/answer session from President Trump? I think we'd all appreciate knowing more about his policies, plans, etc. is that too much to ask?
8
To start with I never could accept that Nixon opened trade relations with a communist country after being raised in the era of Mc Carthyism I felt it was then a betrayal of the United States, again sold out for the love of money. Sad
3
Well so far he hasn't accomplished anything, so what is he crowing about.
9
Right, right, right, it was Obama's fault. Well, there was no trade war with China. Obama pulled us out of the recession and reduced unemployment. This administration inherited an improving economy and low unemployment, a start on universal healthcare, a start on immigration reform, natural resources protection, consumer protection and climate change policy despite the stonewalling on the other side.
The GOP got the White House, Congress and the Judiciary. All this winning. On trade, the loudmouth man made a bunch of threats, made a bunch of promises, alienated our allies, kicked the can down the road and declared victory.
This is a good respite. You can be sure that China has enough U$D to tear through Wall Street and deliver some punishing blows if we act too precipitously. So, we should be shoring up the banks and the market. Alienating our allies did not help that cause. But then considering how Trump, Inc. operates this seems par for the course. We declare bankruptcy leave the clean up to the middle class and move on with our bags of money.
6
The trade issue is the only policy concern where Trump has raised some valid points. Yet his formulation of policy there has been confused at best. It is likely that Chinese leadership interprets Trump as a symptom of a larger disturbance in the American body politic. American industrial output and competitiveness will continue to decline; many on the left and right of American politics will continue to agitate for tougher trade stances from US leaders. The Chinese likely see this bumbling administration as a foil with which to produce an ambiguous trade deal — and perhaps settling the issue for a decade or more.
1
Laughable. A fool is being sold and he is counting the money.
6
I am (just as he promised!) tired of winning. The only wins he chalks up are those to his already inflated ego and the Trump company's coffers. I pray for Robert Mueller every day.
7
That makes at least two of us who are praying for Robert Mueller...
There is also the Right Wing economic Doomsday Machine.
If the US gets into a conflict with China, what would stop the Trump economics people from suspending debt payments and nationalizing Chinese holdings in this country? Or devaluing the currency perhaps to float the money owed.
China has kept the US out of the ownership class in their country and taking full advantage of the open economic system here to purchase US corporations and real estate.
By overplaying their hand, China may have left itself open to losing all they own in the USA.
4
In summary: "TRUMP PRAISES SELF"
6
let me give your authors some clarity ... better yet just let them read the WSJ
1
Hello Mexico, we really need you to help us with getting those nice Chinese goods or we're going to have to pay more for them...
-Donald Trump
2
Strategy? Strategery maybe, but strategy? No.
2
trump never took Econ 101. His daddy paid the dean.
9
I know exactly as much as I did before reading the article. Which is to say not much. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
It's just more Trump administration hogwash and hyperbole. What I wouldn't give to know what's really going in in these talks. I'll bet the Chinese delegation erupts in laughter after the Trump toadies have left the room.
11
Trump should just ‘fess up and admit China bribed him $500 million (purportedly for an Indonesian project) to cancel sanctions. That’s the only reason that makes sense.
Why is the New York Times not pushing this story?
7
Even without a whisper of a win, the Big Tweety Bird is touting victory. Another Noble prize category checked there, Mr. Pretender?
Oh, how I long for the old days. Days of integrity. Days of honor.
Barack's days.
11
I'm surprised that the Chinese delegation didn't laugh themselves sick when the Trump clown car pulled up. Trump is his own caricature. He's an empty-headed, ugly American who revels in his own ignorance. Trump is lucky if he's able to negotiate with Barron over bedtime. China, and the rest of the world, knows that Trump is an empty suit with a long tie.
9
Throw the bum out! He has no idea what he is doing and he is destroying our credibility in the world. We are a laughing stock except that he has the button for nuclear attack. Vote America! Take away this idiot's power. He is dangerous.
6
It's so transparent that the half billion investment from China for Trump project in Indonesia was the corrupt reason to help ZTE. Sickening
6
Blame the democrats seems to be Trumps default position. He's been in the role for well over a year, there comes a point when you can't keep blaming the other guy and you have to take responsibility. Blame rather than coming up with solutions, as the "great negotiator" is what I see from pre-schoolers on the playground. Where have all the adults gone?
5
The Democrats did do something about China. it was called the TPP.
8
Oh, that's right. It's the Democrat's fault that you bombed out on a Chinese trade agreement, because they know how to 'double-down' better than you do. Nice going.
And this is 'Making America Great Again'??
4
The take home message in all this is that Trump, unlike Obama, is attempting, evidently with qualified success, to reduce our trade imbalance with China and, unlike Obama, he is seeking the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. It doesn't concern me if he employs tweets. Results concern me and, in both areas, things look promising. Time will tell. Don't write off a person who took down the undefeated and heavily favored candidate of the Democratic Party in November of 2016. It ended with a standing 8 count.
Trump didn't "take down" Mrs. Clinton. The Russians did, with a bit of assist from Mr. Comey.
It is far too early to start crowing about Trump's "accomplishments". Just because he tweets something, doesn't make it real.
6
The Trump Administration's "strategy":
Destroy agreements
Pay for Play
Weaken U.S. positions
Tarnish U.S. reputation
Alienate allies
Weaken national security
Spin losing as winning
Hold rally to dupe base
Rinse and repeat
5
Who knew that the true "Art of the Deal" translated into taking actions that reduce negotiating power, limit effective options, and accept bribes for personal gain over national security and economic growth?
2
Now, now, don't forget Trump tweeting concern for all those lost jobs (in China) at ZTE shortly after the China pumped money into a Trump connected project in Indonesia. Asked about the matter at a regular news briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said reports linking Trump's changed stance on ZTE with the contract awarded to MCC are an "imaginary story" resulting from US domestic politics. Ha, ha the Chinese version of a White House news briefing. Is there a country out there that hasn't figured out a way to pay Trump off? Maybe just those ones in Africa he disparaged a while back. Pay & play is the Trump way.
5
"On China, Barriers and Tariffs to come down for first time."
Is he referring to the tariffs that he himself did impose, or was alleged to impose, or does he not remember any of that, or is he just babbling out both sides of his mouth as usual?
I mean, is it even worth pursuing the question?
6
There is no strategy because Donald Trump knows nothing about trade. He knows only that he needs to be seen taking action, any kind of action. He knows that his "image" is all about appearing to be tough and a genius in all things. He announces a trade policy with China and struts around for a day or two until the adults sit him down and explain to him why his policy is unworkable and harmful to America and Americans. Donald Trump is hopelessly out of his depth.
2
Another example of how Trump pulling the US out of the TPP, as imperfect as it may be, reduces our leverage with China. “Going it alone” is not a viable strategy in the modern world. You need partnerships and friends, and you can’t be a zero-sum bully.
9
In a related tweet......President Trump tweeted that North Korea has agreed to ship all their nukes out of the country and they have agreed to hold free & fair elections; at a "time and date" to be determined in the future....................(this is how propaganda works).
2
The "Art of the Deal"!!!
We sell the Chinese low value / low in manufacturing chain products, and they sell us (our own stolen IP) high price / high end products.
No wonder he was bankrupt so many times...
4
Who knew trade could be this hard?
2
So China will import Oil , fruits, vegetables and grains from us. So as per Trump, US will become China's Mexico providing commodities. Sick.
2
This man some call our president thinks the U.S. is his personal fiefdom, and he can get away with whatever he wants, select advisors and cabinet ministers who eschew expertise, as he does, for delusions of grandeur. This is an untenable situation, but I fear it will grow even worse with each day. Even if we make it to the midterms and throw many of the bums out, how long will it take before we return to a somewhat functional government? Why are the Republicans still in thrall to this idiot?
9
Why hasn't the $500 million China loan to a Trump development been mentioned?
16
"Tariffs to come down for first time"? Trump is completely unaware China's auto tariffs used to be over 100%, then 80%, then 25% during Obama's watch...and now he's going to bring down the current 25% "for first time" although no specifics yet. This is just like claiming victory for unemployment going from 4.5% in early 2017 to 4.1% now, when Obama reduced it from 9.8% in 2009.
Proves he never paid attention to anything outside his business before becoming president...and still doesn't.
23
President Trump is the driver in Mr. Toad's wild ride careening through the countryside, driving the United States of America into the future with his eyes glued to the rear view mirror. His vision for the future is the distant past.
6
More distractions, more lies, more loans being made to Trump and Kushner interests. A Qatari banked company and a hedge fund under investigation lend Kushner family interests almost $800,000,000.00 in a matter of months; a China owned company approves an Indonesian deal for Trump for $500,000,000.00. All this going on while the real business of dragging us into a shooting war with Iran and Russia is being frameworked by Pompeo and Bolton. Incidentally there will be no tariffs or jobs returning to America that like the pledge of pulling out of conflicts that don’t concern us was just another lie. Big business, Israel Firsters and the neo cons are getting their money’s worth from this crew.
10
Which strategy? Oh, I guess it doesn't matter...he is Mr. One Note: Double-Down. Being right is irrelevant. Saving chinese jobs is so important to the Base.
3
China owns Trump. Figuratively and literally. It’s no wonder he is losing so bigly
3
The EU will be watching this very closely. It will most amusing in a stupid way of the US slaps tariffs on the EU is closest partner and ally while it does not the same with the China.
1
What trade strategy and what agreement?
And why is he always blaming someone else for his ride through Trumpworld?
Is this what happens when you live in an echo chamber of your own making?
And why would anyone make an agreement with him, especially the Chinese?
In Trumpworld, all agreements are made to be broken, so what is the point?
Better yet, the Chinese could make believe they are giving him everything he wants; he is hailed as the savior of Trumpworld, then ignore it anyway.
That is now the real value of agreements in Trumpworld.
Now, if we can pay closer attention to the slow motion coup occurring within our nation's capital, we can maybe put an end to the nightmare known as Trumpworld.
One can only hope...
10
The "great negotiator" turns out to be a juvenile wuss of the first order. There is no planning, no strategy, nothing except a moment-to-moment shoot-from-the-hip set of tweet-like actions. Tariffs on, tariffs off, restrictions imposed, restrictions lifted. Everyone gets jerked around and can't plan a thing. Our poor farmers are not selling real-estate. They need a year's notice to plan their agricultural course. All metal manufacturers have seen their stock and prices careen from high to low. This is not leadership. It is chaos.
Trump is a disaster. His bragging mouth far outruns his actions. How I wish we had an adult at the helm instead of a mouthy 9 year old.
In fact most 9-year-olds could probably do better
9
Anything in the trade talks about getting the Chinese to stop ripping off U.S. intellectual property, like to the tune of 225 to 600 billion dollars per year? Hopefully the fact that it's mostly industries in blue states that are getting their IP stolen hasn't lowered the Trump administration's priority for dealing with this problem. Or is that expecting too much?
23
This is the most serious problem but Trump wants to mess around in soy beans.
3
Soy beans are important to his base in the farm states.
"Hopefully the fact that it's mostly industries in blue states that are getting their IP stolen hasn't lowered the Trump administration's priority for dealing with this problem. Or is that expecting too much?"
That's expecting too much. Any other questions?
1
His tactics may work in the Mafia world he is used to and from whence he came, but not with any one else, friend or foe. The rest of the world is trying to figure out how to get along without us, thanks to Trump and his minions, and we will soon be persona non grata worldwide
10
The China negotiation once again demonsrates that trump is a total incompent. Period.
14
Those 12 rambling bitter confused threatening tweets by Trump over the weekend that revealed his crazed obsession with the Mueller probe were like "Captain Queeg" and the strawberries. The guy is having a paranoid meltdown. Here's hoping some of the remaining 'grownups' in the administration - Generals Kelly & Mattis and who knows who else - will calm him down and get him out of this summit with Kim Jong Un because Trump's in no psychological shape to 'negotiate' ordering a ham sandwich. The truth about Donald Trump is going to come out eventually.
14
In the meantime, no one can plan for the future. No one wants to build extra capacity if it's unknown if the business will come. No one can compete in the global stage because they don't know if there will even be one. This is called Incompetence. And Trump follower will be the first to have their pocketbook hit because of it. I truly hope they will still worship him as they file for bankruptcy and say this is what it takes to make America great again. Thank you all for taking one for the team. You are all Patriots. Just hope you can feed your kids somehow. Wait! Trump killed that program too. Oh, well.
7
Trump praises himself and denigrates anyone who disagrees (name the topic)
What a surprise.
5
NYT falls for the Trump SOP again....He sends out these vague tweets, the NYT tries to figure out what he means, and of course he says you are wrong, He doesn't know what he is going to do as he has no policy, no plan, no strategy no clue. When he gets skinned he will tweet what a great deal he made. Only thing we can be sure of, he is keeping his self interest in the forefront.
7
If the Republicans were looking for a racist and isolationist then they picked the right person for president. But, if they were looking for a savvy negotiator and astute businessman, I'm not sure why they went with a guy who couldn't even succeed in the gambling business. Trump is a failure at even managing his own administration. Why should China take this blowhard seriously?
10
It is so heartbreaking that some 40% plus of Americans (mostly white and middle aged) approve of this evil moron.
He will not do any good for anyone ( other than his family) and most of his supporters ( particularly those below the median income) will suffer for adhoc moronic policies ( or lack thereof).
The only deal this guy will do with China ( or any other country) is the one that helps his family business and that is likely why he was blustering in the first place. Now that his Indonesian project has a $500 million loan from the Chinese government all is well and the Chinese are good guys!
6
Clearly, for 40% of Americans, the Republican plan of dismantling the American Public educational system is working.
2
Mr. Kudlow, who said the financial markets were absolutely fine on the eve of the 2008 collapse, should not be quoted about anything having to do with money and trade.
Trump can put fakers in these seats - but we don't need to call on them when they raise their hands.
9
Approving China's entry into the WTO back in 2001was a big mistake and I hope we don't repeat that mistake today. I am particularly concerned about how a number of Senators will be affected by a vote on any new trade deal with China not only for political purposes but because they have investments in China. Case in point, back in 2001 Senator Feinstein voted yes for China's entry into the WTO and after the resolution passed it was pointed out that her husband, a wealthy investor, had millions of dollars invested in China and stood to gain by their admission when this was brought to her attention she sheepishly admitted that perhaps she should have recused herself from the voting on the conflict of interest grounds but by then it was too late. Today there are a number of Senators who could, either directly or indirectly, stand to gain or lose by any vote on a China trade deal. Perception is not always reality but sometimes it's more important than reality.
3
I am confident that President Trump's approach to trade with China is the right one. I support the President. I support Trump. He will triumph! Thank you.
1
Southern Boy, you are correct ..."He will triumph!"... but 320,000,000 of us will suffer. Sad.
7
He can't even triumph at spelling his own wife's name
6
Trump said, ‘Trade wars are easy to win.’ So why are we losing?
7
Right up there with the stupidest things he ever said. It was actually "Trade Wars are good, and easy to win". The international equivalence of fights with your spouse are good and easy to win.
1
Does anybody think the loan of half a billion to a Trump property in Indonesia moved Trump's tactics? Or was it pressure from soybean farmers on their representatives?
Whatever the cause of his strategies, we can see yet again that the "great dealmaker" doesn't know how to make a deal, let alone oversee our nation's commerce. Tariffs were a bad tool to begin with, public tweeting about them even more so.
And as usual, substance in all of this was entirely missing (because we really do need to compete fairly with the Chinese in their markets as they do in ours). How about requiring that the enormous tax cuts the Republicans afforded corporations be tied to R&D to become more competitive. Oh and an infrastructure bill. Then we might truly make American great again. Hype's sure not going to do it.
23
When losing is characterized as winning, it is indeed possible to become "tired of winning".
A massive increase in food exports to China is a chimera. While China is indeed vulnerable in the area of food production (only 11% of China is arable land), people can only eat so much. A huge increase in U.S. agricultural imports would mean severe cutbacks to China's other food product importers such as Brazil (which exports over 45% of its vegetable products to China), Canada, Indonesia and Australia, to name a few. That would mean a "food fight" among the U.S. and its competitors, resulting in lower export prices earned by U.S. farmers.
Also, there can be no solid guarantees about the quantity of food products. Farming is and always has been a chancy business, where droughts, floods and pest infestation can change the whole dynamic in a single season.
In sum, while agri-power is a potent trade tool, agricultural deals are by nature extremely complex, requiring level, experienced heads. I don't see any evidence of that in the Trump administration.
14
I'm just tired of "playing." This guy has GOT to go.
4
So, foreign policy is attack with sticks and threats, and offer carrots to strike a new relationship. The public displays and airing of grievances by Trump are the 24/7 campaign.
Trump's business history would not encourage a good outcome since he stiffed so many people. Not sure you can do that on the international level without significant consequences.
This is Trumps second year and mid term elections, he needs success and China and North Korea know.
5
Trump is incapable of thinking more than one thought at a time, and those thoughts are only fueled by his ego.
He is not even capable of playing Checkers.
5
Why would he not - all that PAYOLA.
1
Why have tariffs if Trump is going to exempt all the big countries like China & Japan? Kudlow said there would be no trade war but Mnunchin said the trade war is on hold for now. Can't they make up their minds?
5
Our government has become a joke under this administration. the Chinese are playing a long hundred year game and our leaders are worried about the next election.
Moreover, in Mr Mnuchin and Mr Trump you have a classic case of unqualified individuals in a position of power and authority. Neither man has any understanding of history or politics. neither of them understands the will power and dedication the Chinese have to become wealthy and erase from the collective psychi the humiliations of the past.
both of these men are scions of successful father's. the only qualifications they possess are the fact that they are rich and white. nothing else !!
These men are first class evidence of the pervasive white male affermative action in our country.
11
What strategy?
6
The Trump-ettes eat this up and Trump has already gotten 500 million from China that his minions will never see....it really is all meaningless
6
I remember when I was 10 years old and there was a street bully who persisted in bullying me. I put up with this for a few years because I was a timid kid at that age.
One day, he cornered me under a stairway, and started hitting me. This time, I stood up to him. I head-locked him, and smashed his face many times with my fists.
That was the last time he ever bullied me.
There will come a point when Trump's bullying will not work, and some countries will simply find their own solutions or trade elsewhere. I think that with China, they may be just the one country who can stand up to this bully and low-life!
12
The Chinese will play Trump like Ashkenazy with a grand piano. Trump is so transparent to the Chinese. All they have to do is to make sure Trump personally benefits from all these negotiations, e.g., trademarks, zoning rights and purchase the goods and services from his crony friends. Thereafter, Trump would proclaim that whatever tiny concession from the Chinese
5
I do business with the Chinese all the time and they consider a year of negotiations to be approximately ten minutes of real time. They will simply wait you out until you’re exhausted and agree to their terms. Trump hasn’t got enough time left on this earth to deal with President Chi.
11
Trump and his lackeys don't have enough intelligence, kindness, or diplomatic skills to deal with China. I think Trump may just have met his match, and when push comes to shove, the USA will receive a good trouncing at the trade discussions!
8
I suspect that Trump is using the threat of a trade war as a means of reining in that goober in North Korea. I suspect that the Chinese were encouraging him to launch the miles as a way of testing Trump's mettle.
While I personally and intensely dislike Trump I applaud his efforts to deal with North Korea and have a much leveler playing field with China when it comes to trade.This is no different then when it was with Japan some time ago. Certain markets in Japan were closed to American products but no president (both parties) wanted to upset the apple cart and force them to open their markets to American goods.
Lets see if The Donald is the negotiator he says he his. Lets see if there is more to The Donald than verbal tripe.
2
Its amazing .. Trump defending business as usual.. China again got its way! SAD!
2
As always Trump and his administration are full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
5
Trump, Republican leaders, Trump appointees are, as the "boy who cried wolf!" crossed the line to unbridled liars and fabricators. I do not, and cannot, believe any statements coming from his minions. Liars all and not to be trusted. China will clean our clock. Trump will blame Democrats and the US slips from first world to second world status. We bought it, we own it, thank you middle America for electing Trump.
6
If Obama had just taken bribes from China this could all have been taken care of by now. Is that Trump's argument?
8
As everyone could plainly see, as early as 1990s, the USA has largely been engaged in selling China the rope that hangs us........
1
I don’t like Trunp.
But no Democrat has confronted the China trade problem—or Republican. The neo liberal position has that the center of both parties supported—trading manufacturing to China for low paid service jobs is a disaster. See novel laureate Angus for details.
A reality that may turn out to be true: being sensible and cooperative may get you zero in the world stage. Unfortunately I don’t think Trump is sophisticated enough to know when to use bluster.
3
"But no Democrat has confronted the China trade problem—or Republican." A fair point.
And one of he key reasons: Wall Street has NEVER wanted them to. The status quo has been very good for shareholder capitalism and created fortunes for many American citizens while decimating the prospects of many many more American workers.
Milton Friedman spelled it all out decades ago for China and greedy American OWNERS to act on.
11
Blame Democrats. The punching bag for all Trump's faults, failures and all criminality activity.He has broken every pact, every deal, every national program and institutions, alliances.
Must hand it to him though. He sure can lie straight-faced even though he contradicts himself every two seconds.
10
Trump trade strategy:
1. bully and threaten
2. remove tariffs after they do the same to punish your base
3. take bribe for business dealing in SE Asia
4. remove tariffs and find them even better work
6
A master deal-maker in action. Unfortunately, that deal-maker is Xi Jinping. As world leaders interact with Trump, it becomes common knowledge among them that the United States is led by an historically weak, ignorant, corrupt, and easily played empty suit. We are in a crisis, people, and the sooner we deal with it the sooner we can begin the healing process.
12
Honestly, I don't even know why we are having this discussion. Trump does not negotiate - he can barely string a sentence together. When the meeting starts, Trump talks for about 20 minutes in a room with Chinese and US officials. Everybody is looking around at each other, both the Chinese and the Americans, shifting uncomfortably in their chairs while making strange faces. They all let out sigh of relief when it's over and the great man is silent. At that point, the GOP hawks who control Trump take over and start the actual negotiation, which does not go anywhere because few people around the world have any inclination giving in to these arrogant nationalists who probably project an attitude of superiority even when they try to extract concessions. All they are ever going to get is superficial promises and outright deception.
This is the man, Trump, who, in addition to the Democrats, also campaigned against George W Bush's legacy. And yet his policy on everything - Iran, Middle East, China - is Bush to power ten.
I conclude with a message to the NYT. Come on, stop writing headlines like "Trump defends", "Trump demands", "Trump that". Trump does not do anything but talk, talk, tweet, talk and golf.
22
This is an outrageous affront on our president!
I really liked it!
6
Let's tell it like it is: He failed.
6
China, contrary to Trump, believes in walking softly but using a big stick. As of now, based on recent reporting, China has stopped all purchase of soybeans from the US, a billion dollar industry, and has hugely increased its purchase of soybeans from Russia, as well as urging its own farmers to plant soybeans. There is no evidence that China intends to increase its purchases of US agricultural products. China is apparently going to educate the US Midwest on trade wars by showing that Trump is only too willing to throw them under the bus.
And NYTimes, how about some further accurate reporting? This article states: "Last week, Mr. Trump said he would rethink ZTE’s punishment in exchange for trade concessions." This is not what he said in his tweet, and there's no evidence he has walked back his instructions to Commerce to continue buying from ZTE in order to protect the jobs of ZTE workers. A stunning change, apparently driven by China's $500 million investment in Trump's Indonesia deal, and totally ignoring our intelligence agencies findings that ZTE poses a security risk to the US. Tech and Intelligence thrown under the bus. The only person who gets to ride on this bus is Trump.
7
Trump is primarily working for his family and personal profitable benefit from being President of the United State in any trade deal with a China or any other foreign nation.
9
China & North Korea evidently don't have Trump properties yet. He has to move carefully so Don Jr. & Eric can go there to start new properties (at taxpayer expense).
3
Traitor Trump and his band of grifters (Mnuchin, Kudlow, Navarro) didn't realize that China wasn't a substandard commercial building that was put together with undocumented foreign labor.
They also didn't realize that they couldn't bribe the building inspectors, even 'though it was "the greatest building in the world."
7
Blames the Democrats? They had no input, weren't invited and he blocked anything they suggested. Its going to have to be a pretty diehard Trumpet who believes this nonsense. Its really FDR fault. As Bugs Bunny would say - What a maroon.
7
The art of the deal:
Blow something up.
Talk tough.
Talk.
Surrender.
Declare victory.
13
Trump haters will say his strategy is foolish. Republicans will say he's shrewd
None of us knows until we see the final deal (s)
Trump apologists will claim he HAS a strategy. All evidence indicates he has the same ability to focus past the distraction in front of his nose as does a 12 week old puppy.
2
Indeed, China is a formidable opponent . . . perhaps Trump should stick with rounding-up poor, powerless and defenseless immigrants to satisfy his need for chest-thumping.
9
When is the NYT going to withdraw the article it sourced from a Trump insider stating that China is going to concede $200,000,000,000 in trade adjustments to the U.S.? The Chinese have already stated that news of a finished trade deal was baloney.
And by the way, how are the paper's editors and reporters still stupid enough to fall for that kind of bunk in the first place? I mean, Trump's been president for over a year. By now your staff should know better than to take any statement that comes out of this White House at face value. And yet they still become enamored of every bright shiny new object Trump dangles before them. It's really quite sad.
12
"Trump Succeeds In Making USA a GREAT Banana Republic"
5
I don't think Churchill would've sent Mnuchin to fight the war.
3
Sick of winning yet,trump voters???
8
Bring in the clowns. Amateur hour. Trump and team go down in flames.
6
China duped GHW Bush. China played Bill Clinton like a fiddle. Bush Junior ignored China and got run over. Obama tried to accomodate China and got played. Trump puffed up and tried to bully China....and China took advantage of him, just like all his predecessors. China has taken over control of all Europe's abandonned African Colonies and the infrastructure. China runs North Korea. China is moving to forge an alliance with Islam, Iran, Turkey. China controls the Asian Sea named after it...the South China Sea. China has acquired the old American blueprint for a canal across Nicaraugua...as we shamefully acquience to it...the Monroe Doctrine treated as a shameful part of "our past".....soon Chinese naval ports in Cuba and Haiti,,,,Venezuela.
10
Don't worry. I can predict right now that whatever deal Mr. Trump is able to get with the Chinese will be the best deal in the history of trade negotiations, and certainly better than anything Mr. Obama could have gotten.
9
smoores. Likely you are right, but the question is best for whom? Obama was presumably concerned about US farmers and car parts importers. Trump is officially interested in bribes for projects in Indonesia. Even his base is not that stupid that they want to protect
Chinese jobs.
"Trade wars are good and easy to win." Except when they're bad and victory is being negotiated by a man who touch consistently turns gold to lead.
12
Random capitalization = disordered thinking.
8
He is a complete and utter fool.
the "dealmaker" LOL
12
First, Trump didn't say anything about any exchange for ZTE. His public blats only said that he wanted to help,mor some such drivel.
Second, this nothing-enchilada is pretty much what a lot of people expected.
Third, I dunno how this works--but Japan's immediate response suggests that every government in Asia will take it as a surrender to China.
3
I love the cocked pistol analogy by Mr. Ross. Our brilliant economic team pulled a gun on the US economy and is keeping the pistol loaded while they negotiate with themselves.
4
Your articles today don't reflect accuracy from statements by China. Once again you are reporting FAKE NEWS.
Head in sand - done.
2
Donald J. Swamp: The Capitulator in Chief.
4
Trump has no concept of diplomacy and no grasp of trade. He is an incompetent president and should be removed from office because he is sick sick sick.
6
The insanity of this man's brain is exhausting. His babbling ON everything is just draining... Can't wait for him to be out of the WH!
2
What a way for a country to conduct trade agreement through tweets for all to see! This is NOT modern day presidential but modern day stupidity.
143
Trump deals in public to keep secret his true intentions.
1
really? i just thought he was so obsessed with himself that he expects everyone else to be equally obsessed
But, I thought trade wars were easy to win? Why is Trump surrendering already? Oh, yeah, $500 million investment by China in Trump Enterprises. Now we know.
26
I guess farmers won't notice they aren't selling more to China just like the other Trump voters didn't fret at the infinitesimal blip in their paychecks from the "largest tax cut in history." Maybe when their stomachs start growling they'll finally wake up. Stomachs don't watch Fox news.
10
My older son (and I) are both flaming liberals. However, he told me that the increase in his (very modest) teacher's salary due to the tax cut was noticeable. This won't influence him, but I do believe that many low income people did notice the increases in take-home pay, and some WILL be influenced by it. I think it is dangerous to dismiss the effect of the tax cuts (even if they are small relative to cuts for the wealthy).
1
The thing about that increase in your son’s paycheck is that next year it most likely will no longer be there, as the cuts for middle- to low-income taxpayers sunset, while those for the upper levels and corporations do not. This is something Democrats have to hit on every day and every way in campaigning for the mid-terms.
5
I thought the sunset provision was just about far enough out for the next guy to have to deal with the problem and take the blame if it doesn't get renewed.
The problem is that this is not a negotiation over a property, it's a whole bunch of things with pluses and minuses on both sides. A true diplomat and negotiator will try for a win/ win not an I win you lose.
6
Dear Mr. Mnuchin,
To what degree does the loan from China regarding a Trump property deal influence the negotiations and timeline for our country? Please explain your response from a factual-based approach to decision-making. Please provide such facts so that I can confirm them for myself.
Regards,
A Concerned American Citizen
37
Trump's deal-making strategy in everything is clear. Tear up the existing agreements, regulations, relationships and threaten draconian, destabilizing and punitive changes. Then walk most of it back and claim "victory." It is, in fact, a masterful political strategy irrespective of what actual benefits result or who gets hurt. Most people won't look at the messy details. His strategy failed on the repeal of Obamacare when too many people did look at the details because their lives and financial security depend on access to affordable medical care. But they won't care as much as trade so he can pull of a "win" to brag about.
5
He and the republican party have no shame.
20
"President Trump defended his administration’s approach to resolving a trade war with China in a series of tweets Monday, following three-days of negotiations with the Chinese that ended with little clarity."
Yes, our Dimwit Deal Maker.
13
Trump seems to think the Chinese don’t know all about him
- His lying
- His whining.
- His bankruptcies in business
- His reneging on contracts
- His public embarrassments (Stormy Daniels, the Access Hollywood tape, his history in the NY tabloids, his divorces, Trump University)
- His easily bruised ego
- His pathological need for a ‘win’
As my father used to say “They have his number”.
42
China has already done what it needed to do in order to get Trump to call off his MAGA trade war - they paid him a bribe. Trump has a direct financial interest in an Indonesian real estate development underwritten by a state run Chinese bank, and that bank - Metallurgical Corporation of China - just gave that development a $500,000,000 dollar loan. That's a real good deal for China, considering the tens of billions of dollars at stake if Trump actually launches his "war".
But I am surprised Trump didn't hold out for more money. After all, he's supposed to be the greatest deal maker in the world, isn't he? Who would have thought that China could get him to sell us all out so cheaply?
But don't worry folks, I'm sure our GOP controlled congress will investigate Trump's profound conflict of interest and obvious acceptance of a bribe from a foreign power with all the diligence, honesty and celerity they showed in their investigation of the Clinton family charity's contributions from Russian uranium oligarchs. Yeah right...ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....!
26
Trump has done SO many awful things, but this business of him taking a 'bribe' from China is nonsense. I think it undermines arguments about the things he has really done wrong. This Chinese loan has been planned since 2016 as indicated by the following article:"TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Chinese-based financial institution, Chinese Export and Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure), will provide a loan to Media Nusantara Citra (MNC) Group for a theme park project in Lido, Bogor, West Java. MNC’s Corporate Secretary Syafril Nasution said that Sinosure will provide US$425 million loan or 85 percent of the total budget for Bogor ‘Disneyland’ reaching US$500 million (Rp6.6 trillion)." https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/06/24/056782705/China-to-Finance-MNCs... --- Should Trump have been required to divest himself of all business holdings? Absolutely. But, is this loan a bribe? Absolutely NOT. It was in the works two years ago. The Times should have pointed this out in its articles on the subject. This really does give Trump ammunition when he makes claims about fake news.
1
No, it's not. Read this...
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/21/17375900/trump-trade-lido-city-indonedia
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and steals breadcrumbs like a duck, it sure has heck ain't no chicken! Trump's been bribed.
Mexico will be happy to replace the US as a trading partner with China and then Mexico can sell Chinese goods to the US.
7
Any thing Mr Trump says has no meaning or value outside feeding rhetorical garbage to his base of voters. The steel tariffs that were announced 3 months ago and were suppose to go into effect two months ago , have never been imposed. Even China is now exempt from them. But Mr Trump will keep announcing steps that he thinks work well with his base and keep feeding them political garbage and trash.
15
And his base will believe everything and think his actions succeeded in making America Great Again. They will not believe he never did what he said he did. What a con-job.
3
Like a repetitive dirge, it must be said that Donald Trump is simply WAY over his head as far as international negotiations are concerned. People take his skills far too seriously. He is not qualified, and he ignored and then got rid of people who are. There are no plans, there is no competence, there is a clown in our Presidency.
Trump is a two-bit hood from New York, who attempted to run real estate businesses. He couldn't. He resorted to cheating his subcontractors, forcing them into court battles that they couldn't afford, and settling with NDA's to cover up his chicanery. Big businesses, American Banks, eventually refused to do business with him because of his bankruptcies, and presumably bad judgement and "truthful hyperbole" (lies) about business prospects. He needed a "fixer", Michael Cohen, to help cover his tracks as opposed to simply running successful businesses. Hence the Russian money connection.
Trump's incompetence is reflected in his mercurial behavior. He boasts of tariffs and then provides loopholes, he boasts of stopping ZTE and then agrees with China that too many Chinese jobs are being lost (what about campaign promises to American workers?). Trump has no plan beyond showman bluster to his ignorant base and enriching his family with scams like using the ZTE deal to assure loans for his hotel in Indonesia.
17
The Chinese have a term for people like Trump: "Paper Tiger".
10
We have a term, too, but it's not one that should sully the comments section of a major newspaper's web site.
2
Hes so smart and charming, I can't stand it.
1
So now we see the full frontal paper tiger Trump: Steel tariffs? Nope. Trade wars "easy to win"? Nope. Any real agreement? Nope.
Results:
China is slow walking you Mr. Trump. They know that you will not be around much longer...
Japan and others now see that your talk of "tough" tariffs and trade policy is a bunch of baloney.
Nothing tough. Nothing real. Boring really...
2
Gee -- I guess that bribe that China handed Trump for the right to build a hotel and condos at an Indonesian pseudo - "Disney World" is paying off for him. Half a billion dollars in the Trump Org. till will get you anything that you want in the Trump kleptocracy.
5
Donald Trump praises Donald Trump. Where have we seen/heard this before?
6
"No one knew how complicated trade negotiations are."
3
Could the New York Times maybe tell us a bit more about this Secretary Ross and his involvement with Cyprus?
That would be an awfully odd place for a mainstream American businessman and, uh, statesman to be heavily involved -- unless that American statesmanman met with Russian moneymen a good deal that is. Cyprus seems to be one of their haunts.
What's going on here, folks?
7
Trump is the worst deal-maker ever. He's being schooled by the Chinese and North Koreans. It's so funny to watch him spike the football and claim victory, then unwind it all and renegotiate on their terms. Kim has particularly proven that Trump is an easy mark. Trump has single-handedly elevated Kim to a place where Kim now has more leverage over Trump.
Trump just isn't that bright and his supporters act like he won the game in the first inning, just embarrassing.
7
The bitter reality for Trump and those who believed in his pie in the sky views and promises is that it is not 1955 and the US is no longer in a position to dictate at its will,
China and the US are far too intertwined to allow an unbridled and stupid trade war to go on. Trump was trumped, and that in the end is probably a good thing, certainly for the Trump voters who shop at Walmart.
Trump now has to do the right thing, which is to read and learn how the modern world works and the dangers and consequences of bloviating based on what he believes is the truth
69
My fear is that Trump is utterly incapable of reading and learning how the modern world works. Actually, it's more than a fear, it's a reasonably firm belief. It would be amusing to watch him fail, except that failure of someone in his current position has dire consequences for all my fellow Americans, whether they support him or not.
17
Did you say the occupant of the WH should read? You must be new around here. They can't get hi to focus on what he should say and do re his meeting with the leader of NK. Read? Surely you jest.
14
Sorry, Ira, not going to happen.
6
The Chinese follow the US news closely and are well aware of political problems facing Mr. Trump. They know quite well that Mr. Trump desperately needs at least one major economic success for his base to warm up again to Republican candidates in 2018 election. They know that a major Republican defeat in 2018 is effectively the end of Mr. Trump, irrespective of him being impeached or not.
The Chinese have been, and will be, using Mr. Trump's desperation to secure "a win" to pressure him to make major concessions. No doubt, they have advised Mr. Kim to adopt a similar strategy. If he walks away from the negotiations, it is not a problem. They can wait for another 18 months or so and negotiate with the next president. But they probably won't, since negotiating with someone who badly wants to have the deal is a major advantage that no good negotiator will give up.
6
Behind the scene and out of the Americans' earshot, the Chinese must be laughing their heart out. They have correctly called Trump's and his team's bluff. They have successfully divided and conquered the US in trade negotiation. They have masterfully turned the farm sector against the technology sector. They have achieved their objective of continuing business as usual. Without much to show for their blustery, Trump and his team are left to spin their meager promises from the Chinese as success while the Chinese added salt to the wound by flying and landing their strategic bombers on the disputed man-made island in the south China sea.
23
This is another indication that Trump's blowhard tactics are going to remain a source of embarrassment to him. The man seems to think tough uncompromising rhetoric is good policy. But there is no policy forethought involved and retreat seems to be the consequence. Now Trump wants to reopen negotiations with Iran and offer them a really good deal. One which seems to have no chance of going anywhere. The participants in the nuclear deal with Iran seem determined to salvage the original treaty. Setting up a trade war with Europe. Putin must be smiling with all these prat falls and mistakes that have driven Germany and France into economic cooperation with Russia.
6
I see no indication that he's embarrassed by his lackluster performance, his failure to deliver, or his buffoonish appearance to anyone with a quarter gram of perception.
Not one person knows the details of the core agreement. He asked for 200B and got some of it I am sure. We would not drop the tariffs unless they made strong agreements on buying more from the USA.
Everyone hates he is actually making progress that they call it a bribe or he crumbled. Both sides knew what they wanted and it looks like we made that agreement.
Even if it's just 10 billion more it's 10 billion more.
Success.
1
Trump caved. He made vague threats of tariffs and China turned around and made targeted tariffs on our farmers. Then Trump gave up. If you have more than "I am sure" or "It looks like..." then prove your point.
No, not any progress was made. Donald Trump just learned that he cannot claim he is "best friends" with the leader of another country, then try to bully that leader, only to cave in and try to save face.
5
@fz1-
or, ... none of the above.
Success! (for China)
4
What if it is 10 billion less? Will we know the truth? Not from Trump, that's for sure.
Trump threatened a trade war with China and back off when the Chinese government invested $500 million in a Trump project in Indonesia.
It's pretty clear to me what his strategy is: Give me money.
Why is Congress allowing this?
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/china-contributing-500-million-trump...
16
Lots of articles lately on Trump and China, focussing on how he wants to negotiate with them, his "on again off again" tariffs, etc. Isn't the pretty strong evidence that he is being bribed by China (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/05/is-china-straight-up-bribing-don... the most relevant fact in this discussion? He is not even minimally secretive about his "pay for play" efforts with China, Qatar or Saudi Arabia. I recognize that Mueller will eventually report on these issues, but isnt it time for some aggressive, independent investigation?
10
More than a year ago the Chinese agreed to grant Trump 38 new trademarks across multiple personal businesses including hotels and escort services. Trump did an immediate about face on his China policy shorty thereafter.
We need to know if Trump's muddled China trade policies, which the Chinese can see through clearly, are linked to his private business affairs based in China. Trump never takes a single step that doesn't benefit him personally.
15
Who knew that negotiating with China would be so complicated?
13
Trump as an "incredible deal-maker" is simply a myth that Trump has successfully created in the past.
As President, I have yet to see Trump effectively negotiate anything...!
43
The president is a liar and a scoundrel and a thief. He is also a very bad negotiator as we have seen over and over again. Why not report on what actually happened rather than what all these different administration liars and dissemblers are saying happened? That's because there wouldn't even be an article because nothing has really happened except the Chinese got the president to back down and he's making stuff up to save face.
But the NYTimes continues to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
41
Of course he'll defend it. He's been bribed and bought off. He needs someplace to manufacture all his worthless junk. Donald is doing what he does best, telling lies and stealing. What a wonderful individual. We should all be so proud.
11
Welcome to Trumpworld where a global trade strategy is reduced to a couple of tweets.
And we start off the week with Trump pandering to "our Great American Farmers". Wonder what group is next in Dear Leader's list of suckers?
12
Our president is working hard to make China and Russia great at America’s expense.
16
Trump is signalling he's open to more bribes from China.
22
Donald Trump spent all weekend shrieking about "Hillary's emails." Why do you think anyone cares what he says at this point?
34
The man is barking mad. He's insane, unhinged. However, the deplorables like him. Speaks volumes, right?
4
Mr. President: You’re on the clock; you’re answerable for foreign and domestic affairs. You have both houses of Congress behind you; you have a Cabinet that includes Secretaries of State and Commerce. Leave the Democrats and President Obama alone. Your administration will succeed or fail on its merits. Make a decision and shut up!
45
Sox Forever...........This is the year.
4
The Democrats didn’t do something because they were’t bribed, like you were, Trump.
9
Well, you wouldn't want Ivanka (or The Ogange One himself) to suffer from any potential impact on flogging all their respective Made-In-China clothes and general cash-in rubbish, would you?
Oh God, no.
We wouldn't want that At All.
6
It's really a shame that the New York Times and haters just won't give this guy a fighting chance at anything. He's our President. If you don't like him I understand but how about some respect for the office? If Donald Trump flew on his own, you would criticize him for not being able to walk. Cut it out! If he succeeds, we all do. He gave up his incredible billionaire life for this country and is doing it for no salary. I never heard of any Democrats doing that.
He just got a $500million bribe from the Chinese for his Indonesian hotel and you still think he is negotiating for anyone but himself?
3
I really don't know where to start with this. His "incredible" billionaire life which was mostly inherited but also stolen from people who were stupid enough to either invest or work for him.
His own actions have debased the office of the president. i haven't seen any "successes" yet except a tax cut law that benefits him and the rest of 1% .
Typical NYT "news", attempting to put the China negotiations in the most negative light possible, while downplaying Trump's success in reining in China's unfair trade practices. Half truths and obfuscation has become the preferred approach to "news" on "progressive" propaganda.. errr... I mean news sites.
Can or will you please document what was reined in with verifiable proof?
5
Perhaps you'd care to enumerate the concrete ways in which China's trade practices have changed?
5
Then please post your truths backed up with citations about how great Trump won a trade war with China. Do it or stop lying.
1
What strategy ??? As in everything else, it's fly by the seat of his considerable pants, and " we'll see ". The chaos meets Mafia Regime.
Just saying. Thanks, GOP.
14
This is as stupid as Trumo's comment "No one knew how complicated Health Care was going to be"!
Hmmm: why didn't the Dems/previous Administrations do something about trade with China?
Answer (requires reading/retention abilities above the third grade level): Ever wondered what the TPP was for? It was cancelled by the manbaby-in-charge, and now he's noticing it's complicated.
55
"Answer (requires reading/retention abilities above the third grade level): Ever wondered what the TPP was for?"
Trump pulled the US out of TPP without ever reading it.
1
There is no strategy; it is only president blowhard blubbering threats in single syllable words just like he did in kindergarten. So, the tough guy is a cream puff and backs off his "China Strategy" and "America First" goes down the jobs toilet. The great negotiator is a fake. The genius didn't read the cartoons prepared by his staff regarding the tariff strategy and how it is, was, and remains a stupid idea. Or the comic book that explains coal is dying. But, of course, it makes all the sense to his support base because America is loaded with barstool brainiacs and dime store patriots cheering while Donny gets a $500 million gift from China for another tacky hotel. Sadly, Fox News doesn't have show to teach a bumbling, empty head blowhard president about international economics, history, diplomacy and common sense. On a positive note, bald republicans can pick up pointers on combing Bozo hair into a genuinely ghastly example of old man gone nuts.
7
China has illegitimately-elected Donald J. Swamp in the palm of its (much larger than his) hand.
Honestly, a chimpanzee could do a more effective job of negotiating than Mr. Swamp.
4
A kack-handed monkey could have sealed a better trade deal.
1
Strategy
(noun; “ strat·e·gy \ ˈstra-tə-jē “)
(1) : the science and art of employing the political, economic, psychological, and military forces of a nation or group of nations to afford the maximum support to adopted policies in peace or war
(2) : the science and art of military command exercised to meet the enemy in combat under advantageous conditions
(3) : a careful plan or method : a clever stratagem
(4) : the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal
Hmmmmmm……nope, not here. Must have been one of those “auto correct” fixes to a cell phone tweet.
Got another suggestion? Maybe “spasm” or “whim” or “arrogance du jour” perhaps?
3
Trump is following up his tough negotiation with the pharmaceutical companies and extracting painful concessions from Israel before moving our embassy with equally tough sanctions on China. We're winning so much I can't stand it.
6
The problem with Trump is that he has a timing issue. The normal course of action is that you release the results of the negotiations after they have been agreed by both parties. Releasing results before that happens is called wishful thinking.
8
What you are overlooking is that Trump knows his "base". None of them will do any fact-checking, so you have posts like two above peppered with "I am sure" and "it looks like" from his supporters.
2
This is Trump trying desperately to appear that he is the great "dealmaker" he boasts that he is, and attempting to draw attention away from the ever growing body of evidence against him as the Mueller probe marches on. Nice try. We're not looking away.
8
Is "Make China Great Again" his next slogan?
7
Silly question. It's a bigger growth market for the hotel and casino business, and less regulated. We can't afford to jeopardize that.
3
Hey, it's how Sheldon Adelson gets all of his money. Taking Chinese money and donating it to pro-Israel groups is just the way he rolls
Since the Reagan years...every president that followed has cynically chosen NOT to lead but to curry favor from the voter by posing as a Leader and then doing whatever is most profitable for the president's party and the president's pockets. GHW Bush signed NAFTA into law, then quickly proceeded to pander to voters by sabotaging the whole deal.....favoring trade with China, a nation with which son, Marvin, has a billion dollar export/import business. Clinton also chose to favor China, while his vice-Pres served as bag-man for chinese donations to the DNC.....and Chinese companies were hired to manage Top Secret computer networks(infamously at Los Alamos)....Dubya didnt do anything to rectify these disasterous failures of presidential leadership. Obama's appologist approach assumed that America must be punished anyway, thus China's dominance seemed good for his in-laws(half-sister and brother chinese citizens.).....Trump started off sounding American and has now maybe succumbed to the Chinese bribery so effective over the past 30 years.
Lots and lots of people favor trade simply because we believe in comparative advantage. People getting wealthy through trade is the point.
So which one is it, Mr. President? Are you backing off ZTE and a trade war with China in order to reverse the downward stock market slide in time for the midterms? Or because the Chinese agreed to pump millions into the Trump Organization's Lido development in Jakarta?
19
The president himself said that trade wars are easy to win. What's with the delay then? Is it incompetence or a lack of guts?
4
Both
1
As usual, trumps talks bluster, promises a better deal, Where's the deal? Sorry its on hold. Scam artist at best. He retreats with hands off and no accountability, using cabinet member Munchin to clarify with smoke and Kudlow as Media front man. China just rolled trump with nothing. The big deal is America is getting hide and seek from the trump.
10
Why is it even a story that Trump is failing miserably at something but he will cast it as "the greatest ever"? Here's how it will go with Trump's approach to governing:
1. Accuse someone else of failing.
2. Proclaim himself the great white hope for anything.
3. It will be the "greatest".
4. The reality will fall far short.
5. It will be the "greatest".
6. Reality will be the opposite.
6. Rinse and repeat.
6
Keith Bradsher apparently doesn't read the news or watch CNBC. Trump has moved the Chinese illegal trade to the forefront of the debate and gotten results. See the communication about both sides standing down, and the "clip" from Larry Cudlow this morning on CNBC. The NYTimes just loves the idea that the President is failing. He is not!
1
So, then, what is the "new" deal? I would love to know...
1
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/trump-trade-china-tariffs-n...
Read it and weep John.
Yeah, just ask the Chinese workers at ZTE.
No bright country leadership will accept negotiations by threats. Trump seems to think bullying tactics will work for him but is finding diplomacy and negotiations are so intertwined. Push too hard with China and N. Korean negotiations will suffer.
Trump and his far right advisers, my way or the highway, negotiations are way over their head which is pushing us closer to an unnecessary war, just like they did with Iraq.
The Chinese are playing chess while Trump and his team are playing checkers.
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It's worse than that. They're playing "Candyland".
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What about the systematic theft of intellectual property, spying, and extortion of American businesses in China?
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Meanwhile, Japan is set to retaliate through the WTO against the U.S. for imposing tariffs on Japanese aluminum and steel.
So Trump helps a Chinese company accused of intellectual property theft and appeases President Ji.
Trump doesn’t have any trade policy except to trust his gut instincts to oppose our Asian and European allies while giving in to dictators, most of whom he admires.
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@steve jackman
Here is the list of Japanies tariffs on Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof. Not one tariff.
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/tariff/2018_4/data/e_87.htm
Last Published: 9/25/2017
The Customs and Tariff Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Finance administers tariffs. The average applied tariff rate in Japan is one of the lowest in the world.
Japan: Simple average applied Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff
Total -- 4.0%
Agriculture products – 12.9%
Non-agriculture -- 2.5%
Japan: Average industry sector MFN applied duties (selected industries)
Non-electrical machinery -- 0.0%
Electrical machinery -- 0.1%
Transport equipment -- 0.0%
Manufactures, n.e.s. [sic] -- 1.2%
Clothing -- 9.0%
Chemicals – 2.2%
https://www.export.gov/article?id=Japan-Import-Tariffs
Japan learned long ago that non-tariff barriers are much more effective in keeping its markets closed than import duties could ever be. This is why Japan has perfected the art of non-tariff barriers to keep its markets closed over the years.
To find out more, I suggest you read the American Automotive Policy Council's report, "How Japan has Maintained The Most Protected and Closed Auto Market In the Industrialized World". It explains why Japan ranks 30th out of 30 OECD countries in measuring access for imported autos.
Perhaps Trump needs to read the Times' most recent report on this latest tete-a-tete between the US and China. It seems as if Trump has been outwitted and outsmarted by his nemesis once again, he being no match against China's decades of experience in the art of maneuvering and manipulating.
Trump has to defend himself and blame Obama and everyone else for any present state of affairs. After all, he has his base to which he promised that we would be the victors of trade and return all those jobs to America. And the sad thing is, his base via its only news' source, a deceptive FOX, will mold him into a champion of foreign interactions as well as domestic. He has done nothing but make things worse on both fronts.
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Last week it was reported that Trump's Indonesia resort received a 0.5billion $ cash infusion from China (with promise of an additional 0.5billion $) to allowing ZTE to spy on us with their cellphones (until now banned because U.S. military and intelligence said ZTE is a major security threat). So: how much additional $$$$ did the Chinese pay Trump's proxies, realty holdings and/or secret offshore accounts, to get him to sell out his country again. (I think the word for this is TREASON). The GOP has turned us into a first rate banana republic (not to mention vassal state).
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$half billion is pocket change for China but drool-worthy for the Trump cartel.
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Trump must be getting tired of winning. So he's switched to losing -- in China, in North Korea, in Iran, in Europe, in Israel, on drug prices and, hopefully, in the mid-terms.
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If China defies trump. If Japan defies trump. If all of Europe defies trump. If the rest of the world defies trump, now that the bigger players have made it easier. America will truly be alone, just as he and his base want it.
Trump does not realize that the USA does not have the clout or power to bully the entire world all by itself the way trump has bullied his way through life.
There comes a point at which the only loser will be Americans. Trump is making America Last - just as Putin dreams of.
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Who knew? A con artist claims he is the greatest deal maker, but it turns out he is only great at one thing, convincing even trained skeptics to fall for his false claims.
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'Nobody knew negotiating with China could be so complicated"
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His credibility tarnished by copyright emoluments for his business and Ivanka’s, Tump seems to be doing his level best to make China great again. American workers who lost their jobs to outsourcing should find great solace in Trump’s concern for job losses at ZTE.
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Ah yes, the dear leader is doing great for this country's trade. Everyone seems to be running from the US to trade with someone else. Somewhere that is actually stable and won't be claimed as an enemy tomorrow. Get out and vote if you want this country to survive.
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In TrumpWorld, tweets become his stream of conciousness, with immediate gratification: the press of an i-phone send button and over 30 million people read his words. And the media then amplifies it to the world.
We have a man with a middle school mentality in the most powerful position in the world. "Great for our Farmers!" "Best deal in the history of the world!!" "Look at me, aren't I great?"
A failed businessman, a liar, a morally corrupt man, a thug. This is our president. What does that say about us?
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The real question is not what prior Presidents did but WHAT president bonespurs is going to do .
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This country does in fact have a long bipartisan history of stabbing the working man in the back with its trade polices. But don't let Donald Trump's lies fool you; he is merely a continuation of this tradition. From his concern about Chinese job losses to his active attempts seeking Chinese investment in his businesses, Trump may actually be worse than all those who came before him.
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So Donald Trump's argument is, "Sure I've done nothing on China, but I'll just keep pointing the finger backwards to deflect from my own failures."
I'm getting tired of all this "winning."
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Give the guy a little credit. Those 100,000 workers at ZTE are truly grateful that Don the Con has their best interests at heart...
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Negotiations with China will yield mixed results. China is apparently taking steps to increase U.S. exports, potentially up to $200 billion per year. The reality is that it will be less than that.
President Trump will call it a HUGE success and the mainstream media will disparage every aspect of it. The truth will be somewhere in the middle.
All I know, is that unlike Bill Clinton, W. Bush, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Business Roundtable Republicans who ignored, patronized, and/or demeaned people hurt by “free” trade with China, President Trump at least cared enough to renegotiate somewhat more favorable terms for the United States.
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Even 5% of the 200 billion would be a huge success.
The proof is in the pudding. At this point what success is there? Nothing to report so why the victory lap? Thanks for your informative opinion.
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Mike:
If the proof is in the pudding, then why are you and others so negative already?
Neither you nor I know how the negotiations will end. Yet, both you and I do know that President Trump is at least trying harder to get a better deal than the people that I noted.
Experienced professionals with deep knowledge of the subject at hand do better. Amateurs and their off the cuff approach don't cut it.
The success and purpose of his trade strategies might be easier to comprehend if he didn't have his own chips In the game. How is China's treatment of investments into his properties, protection of his trademark and his daughters trademark, affecting the threats, promises and conclusions of these trade rants? Congress needs to do its job and review possible (probable) violations of the law.
In the meantime, American farmers, vintners, ranchers and dock workers are being thrown under the bus.
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He's absolutely right about his predecessors, both Democrats and Republicans.
The economic recklessness and irresponsibility of our government, particularly since China entered the WTO in 2001, is unconscionable.
China didn't "take our jobs"; politicians, Wall Street, Management Consultants, and MBA's gave them away.
China played its hand brilliantly, and exploited the greed of American businesses and their utter lack of concern for the American middle class.
China's leaders have had an engineering mentality in recent decades, so they know an unstable system when they see it, and the entire global economy is one massive unstable system at this point, which is the root cause of the growing political unrest across the West.
China sees the ongoing implosion of the developed world and the social unrest here in the US and in Europe and realizes that it went too far, too fast, and is trying to figure out a way to rescue the West from complete collapse, which will be bad for business for everyone.
Globalization failed. China and the US (and Europe) have to re-architect it, so that the new version of globalization works for everyone.
An argument could be made that the behavior of our "leaders" bordered on treason. If a solution isn't found, quickly, that addresses the monumental problems that globalization has caused, the American Truth and Reconciliation Commission will render that judgement, sometime around 2030, after the Globalization Wars of the 2020's end.
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True, every large American Corporation contributed to the denationalization of the US. Even those who remain in the US buy much of the sourced materials from China. Trumps reward, even more generous tax cuts. Our flag waving Walmart demanded manufacturers outsource to China to keep prices low. Then again we Americas sold our manufacturing base for low,low low prices every day. Instead of working Americans we spend billions fighting an Opium Crises. Instead our manufacturing regions are emptying out.
2
Remember, though, that American consumers play a part in this. They only want products at a certain price point. Look at how cake mix boxes and ice cream cartons have shrunk, even as the price remained the same. Consumers talk about wanting to save American jobs, just not if it costs them more at the register.
Previous administrations tended to treat China's unfair trade practices as violations of international law and tried to prosecute the criminals. See for example the cases of Xiang Dong Yu or Hanjuan Jin as well as others who were possibly not spying but arrested anyway (oops).
This administration tends to treat China's unfair trade practices as an ongoing "trade war" and to act using a somewhat different arsenal. Hard to say if that's a better or worse strategy, guess it depends what happens to the S&P 500 (clearly no one cares about jobs).
These trade talks between the US and China appear to be going nowhere and could very well backfire. Recall when Trump said, “Nobody knew health care could be so complicated.” The dialogue with China must be much more difficult to solve. It appears Mnuchin, Ross, and Trump are so desparate to make it look like they’re on track to wining a deal that they’re considering “relaxing” rules on export controls for very sensitive US technologies and IP.
Your National security, the crown jewls of American “know how,” in exchange for scrap aluminum.
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One of the things that the trade “strategy” will most likely do is raise prices in the US and around the world. It would be great to see trade policies improved upon but in a serious and logical way.
This administration seems to favor creating chaos by shattering existing treaties and policies and seeing what happens. Not good.
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Don't we, as taxpayers, have some right to expect that official government policy be announced from Treasury or State Department Offices, from Department lecterns? We get China trade policy pronouncements from Mnuchin on a Fox News set. We get an Iran policy announcement from Pompeo with a Heritage Foundation backdrop. The whole scene makes it obvious (to US citizens and the world) where the policies are being formulated, and it's not from within the agencies that we fund with our tax dollars. ... Should Iran fear actions threatened from a Heritage Foundation conference room?
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And the decision that US president will meet NK president was announced by South Koreans.
4
The word Trade Strategy should not be used by the Trump Administration. It's just a tweet by tweet reaction not a strategy.
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You clearly have misread the teal leaves.
The President does understand that Congress makes the laws?
Does he realize that his party has controlled Congress for the better part of 25 years?
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I rarely agree with Trump, but when he says that Democrats did nothing he's right.
Of course, if he were a minimally honest man, he would note that Republicans did nothing either.
The bottom line is that since Bill Clinton, Democrats have joined Republicans in following the pied piper of free trade, never stopping to consider the devastating effect on our economy and social fabric of introducing a vast quantity of low-wage workers into the labor pool.
We cannot continue as a debtor nation, exporting our technology and factories and then borrowing to buy the products made in low wage countries. Fortunately, because these countries are heavily dependent upon exports, we hold most of the cards and can insist on basic economic fairness. But vague promises are not enough; the Chinese have a long history of making those. We must have solid, productive agreements.
If the general public knew just how badly third world countries and trade arrangements discriminate against the American worker they would march on Washington with pitchforks and torches.
6
When Bill Clinton's was President we massively increased jobs and wages by shifting our economy to more productive and higher paying service jobs. We were able to do this by offshoring low skill, low paying manufacturing jobs to China. We also off-shored huge amounts of air and water pollution to China along with inflation.
Wages actually increased under Clinton. Our budget was balanced under President Clinton and consumer buying power increased substantially under President Clinton.
21
Wrong, the Obama administration negotiated the TPP which did seek to constrain China and their theft of intellectual property. But Trump pulled out of it. There is nothing that can be done bilaterally with China that come close to what the TPP could do (because of its multilateral nature) to thwart Chinese economic influence globally. Trump is lying in his tweet and you are incorrect to suggest no one did anything to try to restrain China.
4
Don't forget Citizens United passed under Clinton, as well as NAFTA. All of those positives you mentioned were short lived and the big moves still helped the top 1% more than anyone else. They were never meant to benefit middle class in the long term, they were meant to appease and distract the people while the Big Moves (CU and NAFTA, maybe other things I'm forgetting) passed easily and without much fight. Getting rid of low skill jobs to another country is not a positive, we need regular low skill jobs for people here, unless we enact some kind of Universal Basic Income to keep those unqualified or unwilling to work above water financially. As George Carlin said,
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
― George Carlin
At best, Trump is considered "incoherent" by world leaders at large. An after-the-fact or without-the-facts tantrum that changes daily is not a strategy.
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It's not a strategy to advance any policy goals. But it is a strategy to suck all the oxygen out of the room day-after-day, month-after-month, while behind his venal reality show, his minions accelerate the destruction of the environment, the working conditions of ordinary folks, healthcare for those who need it most, respect for law, civility, the public discourse, and the American experiment in democracy.
2
Negotiate such that we will have a 300-400 billion dollar trade surplus with China in our favor, just to balance out the the one way trade China enjoyed for the past 3 decades! DO NOT believe China to get the attention away, they will promise something and will not keep it. We must keep an eye on China, they are out to displace us as the Global leader. Our past leaders were sleeping the wheel!
1
And now we have a dotard driving off a cliff.
"....touting his administration’s ability to get the Chinese to make concessions.".
Yesiree, the negotiations are much better and grander than Obama's, who failed to do anything according to the "president".
Well, it is just amazing how things turned around after a $500M "investment" into a Trump property.
The winning.....
78
Thanks for mentioning the $500 million in Chinese gov. loans. What is it with the NYT's decision not to report on those loans? It's a fact that they happened. Krugman wrote about them. They've been widely reported elsewhere. Seems like a pretty glaring omission in this article. What's up?
How does someone who always blames others get to be the leader of the free world. The buck stops anywhere but Trump.
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Yes, the bucks all whiz past Trump but somehow land in the bank accounts of his relatives or associates.
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Remember this, that when you point a finger at someone, three come back to point at you. Trump is an inane, low level person and bully, who doesn't filter what he says.
1
Now it's time for Trump to turn his attention to Japan, America's only other trading partner which arguably has an even more closed domestic market than China. Let's not forget that America has its second largest trade deficit with Japan, next only to China.
The head of Ford has called Japan the most closed market in the world. But, autos are not the only bone of contention between the U.S. and Japan. Japan imposes extremely high tariffs on many American agricultural products, including tariffs of as much as: 50 percent on processed beef products, 24 percent on poultry, 40 percent on dairy products, 661 percent on whey, 32 percent on fruit, 43 percent on juices, 1,000 percent on vegetables and pulses, 250 percent on wheat, 255 percent on barley, 21 percent on soybean oil, 600 percent on peanuts, 26 percent on processed products like coffee and 778 percent on rice.
It's hard to believe that with all the military and diplomatic support the U.S. provides to Japan, it has so little clout that it cannot even get Japan to agree to a fair and free bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. It's time to address America's USD 70 Billion annual trade deficit with Japan ASAP.
5
Read information from the commerce department not fox and breightbart.
Wrong. In terms of tariffs, Japan has none, while the US does apply tariffs to cars brought into the US from Japan.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/16/news/economy/american-cars-japan/index.html
3
You do know that Japan is also, after the UK, your second largest Investor pumping 349 billion /year into your economy?
Against that a paltry trade deficit of 70 billion is peanuts.
BTW, we are your third largest Investor and even have a trade deficit with you, but don't care, aade deficit only means we buy more of your stuff then you buy of ours, the same can be said about my local supermarkt.
2
The fact is that Japan learned long ago that non-tariff barriers are much more effective in keeping its markets closed than import duties could ever be. This is why Japan has perfected the art of non-tariff barriers to keep its markets closed over the years.
To find out more, I suggest you read the American Automotive Policy Council's report, "How Japan has Maintained The Most Protected and Closed Auto Market In the Industrialized World". It explains why Japan ranks 30th out of 30 OECD countries in measuring access for imported autos.
So Trump is getting the Chinese to buy $200 billion more of US goods and services in lieu of the steel and aluminum tariffs. How will that be measured and enforced? Also I guess he has given up getting US steel workers back to work.
93
You are right.
Also let’s Have a look at the deals proposals. From what I know it’s only going to help bankers, energy companies and big companies wanting to setup shop in China.
China is moving away from coal. Maybe lng exports. I can’t see China importing 200b of agricultural goods. That’s a diversion.
15
The train for getting U.S. steel workers back to work has left the station years ago.
16
There is no evidence to support the contention that the Chinese have agreed to buy 200 billion dollars more of US goods. Trump simply said that; he says things all the time; blather, blather, blather. But with little if any substance and possibly 15% truth.
17
So far, the "trade strategy" has been threatening to raise tariffs on Chinese imports, but then suddenly announcing a "suspension of the trade war" on some as yet formalized promises by China to buy American goods. Embargoing technical parts to China's telecom company ZTE, and then rushing to rescue it from "the loss of Chinese jobs." Meanwhile all we know is that last week China invested $500 million in a Trump project in Indonesia. This sounds and looks more like what you called out Hillary for as "Pay for Play" than a trade strategy.
259
is Trump now also head of China government ? why is he worried more about jobs lost in China than protecting US security ( China has always been known to send their "scholars" working in US high-technology field for security defense and stole our trade secret ). has this anything to do that China had "coincidentally" invested in Trump's property in Indonesia ? without even transparent negotiation , Trump just suddenly unilaterally declared helping Chinese telecom firm , ZTE, to reverse their almost bankruptcy. what happened to US workers' jobs ?
27
All I can say is VOTE come November. If the Dems take the House outright corruption like this will be front page news. In your face Donald.
8
correct. one thing the chinese understand is how to bribe and get what you want.
5
Let me see if I've got this right:
- Trump threatens China's economy.
- China threaten's Trump's rural base vote and Boeing.
- Trump folds, claiming China's pre-existing intention to increase food and fuel imports from the US as a victory.
- Trade hawk Peter Navarro provides confirmation of the folding by losing it in public--in China.
- Every government being threatened by Trump recalculates its odds of eventually winning and recalibrates its strategy accordingly.
248
And don't forget this, which I think is the bottom line for Trump: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/china-contributing-500-million-trump...
That's a BINGO Nick.
13
Uh....if China is involved in all of this.....isnt maybe CHINA part of the problem? Not just Trump, who is behaving more like Obama, Dubya, Clinton, and GHW Bush?? You're barking up the wrong tree.
1
This headline for Trump's already failed trade strategies should be linked directly to today's other headline on Trump demanding an investigation into the Russia investigation. Deflect, lie, and misdirect are this administrations chief strategies for any issue that doesn't reflect well on them--and so far that's all of them. Isn't even the base getting tired of all the losing?
86
There was a story last week about Maryland crab companies who were unable to bring in temporary workers on visas. These companies had done this for years and years. This year their via requests were denied. The company owner interviewed said he knew that Trump would help them if only Trump knew just how bad things were for the Maryland crab industry. Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, he still believes that Trump is going to help him. They don't think they are losing because they still believe he is going to help them.
70
On which day in the past 30 years has US =China Trade Policy NOT been a total disaster?
4
Because they get their news from one or two sources they never really understand the issues beyond talking points. They follow blindly. Reminds me of German in the 30’s.
The base will not grow tired of Trump lies until it actually hits them in the pocket or worse.
6
With this President, there is no "strategy" on anything other than how can I hold my base today and how can I line my pockets and those of my family members?
218
@Didier, Charleston WV: It’s time for me to tell you that I love the “head-in-hands” signature. It’s instantly recognizable and your comments—aside from being spot-on—are razor-sharp. They cut to the bone.
6
Thanks and I've long admired your pithy commentary.
Keep it up!
The billion-dollars-a-day trade imbalance represents many jobs that need to come back home for Americann workers. Our globalist elites got us into this mess and our most transparent administration ever - Donald Trump's - is actually trying to balance things out.
If China ends up creating a Pacific war with bases like the Spratley Islands, the trade situation may well collapse the Chinese indistrial base.
They'll be back to over a billion farmers unable to support their gigantic government apparatus and the most wasteful regime ever to arise, with entire ghost cities built for reasons we still don't know.
Over the last several years, those so-called “ghost cities” in China have become jam-packed with people. Everyone has to eat...so fingers crossed, the USA agricultural exports to China will address some needs (and wouldn’t it make the world great again if hunger, the environment, and health care get addressed in both countries and the world with more evidence-based thinking and policies?)
4
We live in a global economy now and it's time for people to start to figure out how to thrive in the new economic order. Constantly promising to bring jobs back or resurrect dead industries only encourages people not to retrain and refocus.
35
The trade imbalance represents deficit spending along with a lack of savings by the US consumers. We simply spend more money than we produce goods. If we started saving money and reduced our deficit spending our trade imbalance would improve dramatically. Of course our economy would also shrink dramatically.
Our trade imbalance is going to grow because of President Trumps policy of reducing taxes and increasing spending to stimulate an already inflating economy.
10
You know right off the bat things are in deep trouble when the President starts his tweeting how great things are and another first for him. The stock market is telling the story today (the DOW is up 1.35%), meaning tariffs are bad and capitulation is great. "Munchkin" so much as said that on Fox Sunday. He didn't say capitulation though, more like "back to square one".
45
Chine is buying its soybeans from Russia and Mexico is buying its corn from other countries. Other countries are also looking for alternate suppliers rather than deal with the unstable Trump administration. If there are any family farms left by the time Trump is done negotiating, I'm sure that they will be happy to sell their products to China.
130
"Strategy" What is it? Tweeting nonsense is not a strategy!
Already backing off on tariffs .
Of course trade partners will go to other sources.
Another disaster in the making.
11
It will be interesting to see if Trump actually accomplishes anything except tearing things down. He's very good at pointing fingers, very good at out and out lying and disinformation, but what has he actually done that has actually helped the majority of us?
He's been very helpful to his company, I'm sure Trump and his family is making money hand over fist handing out favors, but I've not seen anything but destruction and lies from this administration.
273
Don't forget the almost $60,000,000 has paid hmself to play golf.
73
Correction: Don't forget the almost $60,000,000 that WE have paid him to play golf.
Trump is a Republican, and that party hasn't done anything in the last 50 years that has benefited the majority of Americans. Not-one-single-thing. Period.
So, don't hold your breath.
23