Posted on 04/08/2025 7:16:30 AM PDT by RandFan
The trade war between the world's two biggest economies shows no signs of slowing down - Beijing has vowed to "fight to the end" hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to nearly double the tariffs on China.
That could leave most Chinese imports facing a staggering 104% tax - a sharp escalation between the two sides.
Smartphones, computers, lithium-ion batteries, toys and video game consoles make up the bulk of Chinese exports to the US. But there are so many other things, from screws to boilers.
With a deadline looming in Washington as Trump threatens to introduce the additional tariffs from Wednesday, who will blink first?
"It would be a mistake to think that China will back off and remove tariffs unilaterally," says Alfredo Montufar-Helu, a senior advisor to the China Center at The Conference Board think tank.
"Not only would it make China look weak, but it would also give leverage to the US to ask for more. We've now reached an impasse that will likely lead to long-term economic pain."
Global markets have slumped since last week when Trump's tariffs, which target almost every country, began coming into effect. Asian stocks, which saw their worst drop in decades on Monday after the Trump administration didn't waver, recovered slightly on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, China has hit back with tit-for-tat levies - 34% - and Trump warned that he would retaliate with an additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn't back down.
Uncertainty is high, with more tariffs, some more than 40%, set to kick in on Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
concern trolls disguised as libertarian loons.
They maybe need to worry about saving ass than saving face. We export very little to them. They live and die by exporting to us.
Exactly. This is a gam of Chicken & Donald Trump is the best. China is in the weaker position as well.
That’s the thing about thew Chinese. They are convinced in their national mind that they are better than everyone else in the world. They have a superiority complex greater than any country in the world.
I believe Apple has already started moving iPhone production to India. Perhaps India and others will take even more manufacturing away from China.
I had an interesting chat with ChatGPT about China. Their population decline. The suspicion there’s not really 1.4B of them. Their real estate market is collapsing. Youth unemployment is high, can’t afford to have kids. Domestic Foreign Investments have plummeted 80% since Trump. The tariffs are a sledgehammer to their economy, not to ours (even if it hurts a bit)...with Vietnam, India, Mexico, ..., all ready to take over manufacturing. Vietnam is already booming.
I’ve no idea just how true it all is...but is an interesting read.
https://chatgpt.com/share/67f47715-4b0c-8013-8c95-542abfebb791
We also need to make sure that those countries are not exporting Chinese company products to us to avoid the tariffs.
Both sides are prepared to wait this out.
This “trade war” with China is just part of much larger “Cold War” which has moved to a new level.
I bought a grinder there once about fifteen years ago.
The motor burned up in less than five minutes. I took it back and never bought anything there again.
What’s next? Hopefully, the end of the CCP.
IMHO, Pres Trump is TOO focused on getting things "fair" ASAP, and hoping that it works out in the long run... rather than looking at this very small 2-year window of opportunity that he has to repeat his economic success in Term I.
And I continue to be appalled at the Congressional GOP doing NOTHING to advance and secure the Trump agenda in the Legislative Branch. We need to Primary out EVERY Republican in DC that fails to openly push for actual votes on the floor for bills that cements lower taxes and less spending for the long run.
Walmart and Amazon are deeply concerned.
You fail to understand that the CCP does not care one whit about the Chinese people, or even the Chinese economy. Appearances matter far more than substance. Their only actual concern is power, and their only true fear is riots and uprisings by the Chinese people. We could look for some brutal tactics in suppressing protests and riots across China, but we will likely not hear much about them at all, since they also have very tight control of their media outlets. Standing up to the US makes them look strong, and that's more than enough for them. Pres Trump should have left this battle on the back burner for at least 6-12 months while making everything else stronger first.
Many companies in Vietnam and South Korea are Chinese owned. They have already established a workaround.
Someone thought China would fold fast? No, they will scream and fight. But we hold the better cards.
China is the key, everyone else falls into line much easier. China is the Queen on the chessboard, it’s game over once we get an agreement with China.
That is correct. Red China is fake. To put it exactly.
I wonder when and if the people finally get sick of it over there.
That's okay. Will buy American items that are quality every time. over a foreign item.
If it's lesser quality, then no. Unlike one poster - tovarishch produktoviy - who wants Americans to be FORCED to purchase American items REGARDLESS of quality.
“concern trolls disguised as libertarian loons.
Rand Fan used to be so good, but lost all nerve for some reason, and seems fine with China being the preeminent world power.
Cheap crap from China is no longer cheap. I guess that just makes it crap. Time to start making things here.
Re: 31 - Congress is impotent. They do not have the votes to even move appropriations bills using Regular Order.
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