Things are getting serious. Tit-for-tat tariff announcements assure losers, not winners, if implemented and stick.
In response to China matching US imposed $50 billion in tariffs on its goods, Trump issued the following statement: “This latest action by China clearly indicates its determination to keep the United States at a permanent and unfair disadvantage. This is unacceptable.
“Therefore, today, I directed the United States Trade Representative to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent.”
If Beijing retaliates in kind as before, he’ll impose another $200 billion in duties on its products, he said, adding, US tariffs will become effective “if China refuses to change its practices, and also if it insists on going forward with the new tariffs that it has recently announced.”
“China apparently has no intention of changing its unfair practices related to the acquisition of American intellectual property and technology.”
“Rather than altering those practices, it is now threatening United States companies, workers, and farmers who have done nothing wrong.”
“This latest action by China clearly indicates its determination to keep the United States at a permanent and unfair disadvantage, which is reflected in our massive US$376 billion trade imbalance in goods.”
In April, the Trump regime announced $50 billion in tariffs on around 1,300 Chinese products—last Friday reduced to 1,102 of equal value, 818 worth $34 billion effective July 6.
The remainder will be reviewed on July 24 before a final determination on imposition is made.
On Saturday, China’s Commerce Ministry said it “doesn’t want a trade war,” but will “fight back strongly” in response to Trump regime actions on trade, adding: “If the US side finally loses its mind and issues a new list, the Chinese side will be forced to take comprehensive quantitative and qualitative measures and provide a tough response.”
Three rounds of Sino/US trade talks failed to resolve differences. During talks in Beijing last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi remained far apart on trade and investment.
Separately, Pompeo accused Beijing of “unprecedented . . . larceny” on trade and through cyber activities, claiming: “[T]hey’re not just taking [from the US] by forced technology transfer or stealing it by way of contract, but committing outright theft.”
A previous article explained that America’s trade deficit with China and other countries was made in the USA, not in Beijing or other foreign capitals.
Longstanding US policy encourages offshoring of jobs to low-wage countries—the problem exacerbated by last year’s great GOP tax cut heist, incentivizing corporate predators to shift operations abroad for tax advantages gained.
America blames other countries for its own wrongdoing and wrongheaded policies—sticks with other nations, not carrots, its favored tactic.
Dealings by China and Russia with other countries are polar opposite.
They seek cooperative relations abroad. Unlike Washington, they’re not waging political, economic, propaganda or hot war on any nations—a long term winning strategy.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
Who owns Bayer-Monsanto now? Did USA buy Monsanto back from China? Because it wasn’t that long ago that China bought Monsanto and frankly I think they planned to build a good reputation. Also they are avoiding war.
It’s obvious to me that President Trump wants a war because he probably promised Lockheed Martin huge purchases. Pompeo even.offered military support to N Korea. OMG That’s nuts. We won’t have a healthy relationship with Korea until we get someone we can rely on as President.