Posted on 11/10/2016 4:54:25 AM PST by BJ1
That's the view of Jack Ma, the founder and CEO of Alibaba (BABA, Tech30) and one of China's richest men. A healthy and positive relationship between the world's top two economies could solve lots of problems, he said. "But if they don't work with each other it's going to be [a] disaster," Ma told CNNMoney in an interview Wednesday. Ma says he is optimistic that Trump will not carry through with campaign trail threats he made against China. The U.S. President-elect said he would name China a currency manipulator on day one of his presidency, and pledged to slap punitive tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the U.S. "I don't fear [a Trump presidency], I think a healthy and positive China-U.S. relationship is so critical," Ma said. The tech tycoon said there is a clear gap between campaign rhetoric and the reality of the job of U.S. president. He said Trump wouldn't be the first candidate to make threats and not carry them through into the presidency. "Every time they talk about it. But I think when they become president, when he has that burden ... the world is not as simple as he thought." "He's a smart person, he will adjust," Ma said. "He will never neglect the relationship between China and America." Ma, who was a regular visitor to President Obama's White House, said he was looking forward to meeting Trump. He said the new administration should focus on trade and globalization to create more jobs, and improve the understanding between China and the U.S. "We need to respect each other's culture and we should forget about what we have been doing in the last century," Ma said.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Define Free Trade.
You mean if we weren’t letting U.S. Corporations screw American workers in favor of China’s cheap labor while maintaining free unfettered access to America’s market when they want to import the goods once made here? THAT free trade?
It might be a disaster for Jack Ma. For the rest of us? I’m not sure.
I wouldn’t say that DJT is anti free trade, I would say he is pro equitable trade. Our trade “deals” to date are laughable.
Trump will clearly work with China. That seems very obvious.
But he won’t let China take advantage of us anymore. I know that’s a shocking concept which frightens a lot of people (like Jack Ma) but we now have a president who is going to make sure that America is treated fairly. There’s a fainting couch over on the left if you need it.
Do yo really want the USA to de industrialize?
I bet Presidents hear this kind of thing on a daily basis. Or would, if their staffers didn't deal with it for them.
We don’t have free trade with China. And we can’t. China is not willing. We have a crapy trade deal with China and can use a better one.
Question for Jack, the US makes up how much of China’s market?
Could indeed be a disaster for... China.
Lol you nailed it.
China won’t be Trump’s biggest road block. U.S. Corporations hungry for cheaper and cheaper labor will be.
I’m just asking what would be the consequence of doing that. Say a 20% tariff, or maybe 35% because I think DT used that number in relationship to auto makers going to Mexico. Obviously that would hurt American companies who built factories over there and raise prices for consumer goods. But would those factory jobs come back to the USA or would they just get relocated to another low wage country?
And can you really stop China’s theft of intellectual property?
I could really care less what the effect would be on China. They can pound sand for all I care. I am only asking for the consequences for our side.
Trump never said that he wouldn’t work with our trading partners. He said he wouldn’t work on anything but a level ground. BUMP!!!
I view trade the same way I view military conflicts, obviously ideally you want free trade just like you want to have peace. But you can’t announce you’d unilaterally abandon all tariffs and trade restrictions in pursuit of free trade any more than you’d unilaterally disarm your military.
“It might be a disaster for Jack Ma. For the rest of us? I’m not sure.”
Agreed. Somehow I don’t think his major concern is the welfare of both economies.
Jack Ma might want to start talking over a plan B future. Maybe downsize his house collection and look for better sales just within China itself.
I agree that disaster will ensue if China does not work with President Trump (that has such a nice ring to it) as China will loose its major market. As hard up as we are, we are still the ones in the world with the money to buy the Chinese junk. The Chinks would be starving if we stopped buying.
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