Reuters: China says it never backs down in the face of threats after trade salvos with U.S.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has never surrendered to external pressure and it will win any trade war with the United States, the nation’s state media stressed in a series of editorials and columns in the hours after the world’s two top economies targeted each other with steep tariffs.
While China’a Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai stressed in comments to reporters in Washington that Beijing’s preference was to resolve the trade dispute through negotiations, Beijing’s official mouthpieces were taking a more belligerent line.
The ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily newspaper said Beijing’s quick counter-move had caught the Americans off guard.
“Within 24 hours of the U.S. publishing its list, China drew its sword, and with the same strength and to the same scale, counterattacked quickly, fiercely and with determination,” the paper said in a commentary on Thursday.
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WNU Editor: The media narrative is that a trade war with China will devastate U.S. businesses and workers .... while ignoring the impact that U.S. trade with China has already had on the U.S. manufacturing base and the millions of Americans who were once employed in these industries. On this issue most Americans understand that the current situation is not sustainable, and that trade with a country like China that protects its industries and limits competition is not in the long term interests of the U.S.. For the Chinese government .... they need these massive trade surpluses to fulfill their promises to their citizens that their lives will get better, and not surprisingly any threat to this trade/financial pipeline is perceived as a threat to the Chinese government. Unfortunately .... threatening the U.S. is not a smart way to get what they want. The Chinese will have to learn to do something that they are not accustom to in the modern age .... and that is to compromise. My prediction .... and based on my own personal experience in my 35 years of dealing with Chinese businesses and their political masters .... the Chinese are not going to budge. They see certain U.S. business sectors, much of Congress, all of Trump's political opponents, and definitely much of the main stream U.S. media .... unquestionably supporting their position. They are going to leverage this to get what they want. As for the White House .... President Trump got elected on this issue .... they will implement these tariffs, and they will counteract any moves by China. Expect some rough times ahead .... but in the end it will be China that will blink. They are too dependent and vested in the U.S. as a trading and business partner .... after all .... who in the world will permit China to enjoy multi-hundred billion dollar deficits to sustain Chinese growth. From my vantage point .... no one.
More News On Chinese Warnings To The U.S. On Trade
China's State Media Warns of Pain for Trump in Trade Battle -- Bloomberg
China, holding Treasuries, keeps 'nuclear option' in U.S. trade war -- Reuters
China's Rapid Response to Tariffs Raises Treasuries Risk, for Some -- Bloomberg
If There's a US-China Trade War, China May Have Some 'Unconventional Weapons' -- New York Times
WNU Editor: After I had the above story I read this ..... U.S. Trade Gap Widens for Sixth Month Ahead of Trump Tariffs (Bloomberg). As I said .... this is not sustainable.
5 comments:
Trump, as is often the case, now backing off a bit
"As I said...this is not sustainable." You are spot on!! Many of us Americans have realized this for years. While the DJT approach may not be the right one, we are pleased that someone in power is finally working to try and address this.
"Trump as is often the case, now backing off a bit." The master negotiator is at work. Start out with an "inflated position" as the "opening bid." Both parties will engage some rhetoric. Then get down to negotiations. As stated, perhaps the DJT approach is the wrong one. We are still early in the negotiations though.
Time being limited right now, one side: the status Quo. As you correctly point out, this isn't sustainable. Most Americans understand this. The other side: the model put for by DJT that understands a change is needed. Is his approach the right one? I honestly don't know. When presented with the unknown or a known bad, sane people will go with the unknown pretty much all of the time.
The same applies with regards to Syria and US foreign policy in general. The status quo is not sustainable nor is it working. Not only this but if continued will likely get millions of Americans killed. The Trump approach may not be the right one but it is a different approach. As is the situation with Syria, sustaining a presence there does not serve our interests. As such, working with the powers that be there so we can extricate ourselves from this is a reasonable way forward. Maybe its not the best decision but when bad choices were made initially the best solution is probably to choose the least bad option that costs the least.
Trump's strategy I think is designed to get US based manufacturers to come home from China. He got the tax code changed so they can repatriate their offshore billions; he has made it national policy to turn the US into the free worlds low cost energy superpower; he is showing industry he will defend their interests from predatory governments. All of that designed to encourage Chinese based operations to relocate.
This in turn will encourage a growth in US demand for trained machinists, engineers, skilled tradesmen and likely new plants in low cost states, the Trump states.
Anonymous,
I think you are correct. It really is amazing to see all that he has accomplished in the face of such unrelenting, unreasonable, and rabid crazy opposition. I think he is on the right track here. The part about becoming a low cost energy is especially exciting. America could become the go to country for energy needs potentially changing the world power structure.
Also, he is generally on the right track with regards to foreign policy with Russia. Unfortunately here the opposition has been even more ridiculous and unreasonable. Add to this the fact that POTUS seems to have trouble standing up to the generals.
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