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This is Truly a Trade War
American Thinker.com ^ | May 17, 2019 | William R. Hawkins

Posted on 05/17/2019 6:18:40 AM PDT by Kaslin

The trade negotiations between the Trump administration and the People's Republic of China (PRC) are not rooted in commercial disputes. Though media discussions are dominated by issues about opening markets for U.S. exports limited by Chinese policy, the real issue is national security and the need to keep the balance of power tilted in America's favor. Business is the means, not the end. Comparative national capabilities in industry and technology determine military potential, and financial strength supports economic development and diplomatic influence. China's rapid growth has moved the country from the seventh largest GDP in 1980 to the second largest today with the world's largest manufacturing capacity. Beijing's rise threatens to overturn world politics in the same way Germany did when it overtook Great Britain at the end of the 19th century. It was only because the U.S. economy surpassed the industrial might of Germany that the world wars turned out as they did.

Though China's growth rate has slowed from 10% to about 7%, it is still moving at twice the rate of the U.S. economy even with the boost given to it by President Donald Trump. China needs to be slowed down, which means ending the massive flow of capital and technology that has built Beijing's capabilities and which have then been supported by the trade deficit. Americans sent a net $419 billion to China last year by buying their goods, keeping their factories open and their workers employed. Americans bought almost five times the value of goods from China as American-based producers sold to China. Over the last ten years, Americans have sent to China over $3 trillion net via the deficit in goods. Yet this is only the tip of the iceberg.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 05/17/2019 6:18:40 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

It wasn’t a trade war until President D.J. Trump (and his supporters) decided to push back. Until then, it was a trade capitulation.


2 posted on 05/17/2019 6:24:00 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys all aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: Kaslin
An excellent article, thanks for posting.

Slight correction to the title: This is Truly a Trade War

3 posted on 05/17/2019 6:24:39 AM PDT by FtrPilot
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The way to measure success is to count what percentage of demonrats are pissed off about it


4 posted on 05/17/2019 6:40:50 AM PDT by dsrtsage (For Leftists, World History starts every day at breakfast)
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To: Kaslin

It’s been a trade war for 35 years. We just finally started shooting back.


5 posted on 05/17/2019 6:41:36 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca. Deport all illegals. Abolish the DEA, IRS and ATF,.)
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To: Vigilanteman

We have been in a trade war ever since Nixon opened the door in 1972. The fact that Trump is the first President to actually fight back means that we have lost all of the battles until now. Maybe his current tariff battle will be the first win for the US.


6 posted on 05/17/2019 7:35:22 AM PDT by richardtavor
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To: Kaslin

China has always been waging a global anti-west trade war. We have just decided to do something about it. They have tariffs on us. The have special rules that stop our companies from owning their own businesses in China. And they have courts that never side with westerners. Plus they always have anti-Japanese and anti-westerner propaganda that has been running for decades.

China is at war with us. And our companies will never make money in China. The ones that do are just there so China has influence on America. Apple is allowed to sell products in China as long as they build their products in China. Tesla has to deal with 50% tariffs. And farmers sell to China only to have their soy beans go unsold if China is angry. China knows that farmers wag Trump. China plays dirty. Its their way. No deal will change that.

There is a way to handle China. America should put a 50% tariff on China. Not all at once. But it start at 25% and grow 5% a year. Companies will have time to resource their products elsewhere or pay the tariff. America’s budget gets balanced. And China loses support for their army, which is the largest in the world. Tariffs are bad, but China already has tariffs on us and always will.


7 posted on 05/17/2019 7:37:01 AM PDT by poinq
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To: Kaslin

Very good and important read. Especially for those who are anti-tariffs and just do not see the big picture at stake her.


8 posted on 05/17/2019 7:47:27 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Kaslin; cba123

china


9 posted on 05/17/2019 7:59:02 AM PDT by gaijin
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To: Kaslin

Republicans have a hard time getting elected after 30 years of ruining the producer sector. That includes many ruined careers with replacement migration, and that huge sucking sound Perot was correct about.

The Commerce Chamber has money, but the workers do not support them.

CoC Rinos do not support Producer jobs and careers, and then the people ignore you. How is that bad Tariff policy of decades past, how is it working for you??


10 posted on 05/17/2019 9:33:39 AM PDT by TheNext (Democrats Gun Control Kills)
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To: RedStateRocker

Yep - and I believe President Trump when he says if he’s pushed into a war, he will fight it to win it....hasn’t happened since WWII and Korea was the beginning of a long line of sending our military to die with no intention of destroying the enemy...


11 posted on 05/17/2019 10:02:59 AM PDT by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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To: Kaslin

bump


12 posted on 05/17/2019 6:34:48 PM PDT by foreverfree
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To: gaijin

Thanks.

For THIRTY YEARS our manufacturing base has been sold out, by BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.

Really. Everyone, has been sold out. Everyone.

Ross Perot was 100% right. Right. Right. Right.

As a country, we have been sold out for THIRTY YEARS.

Everyone.

Now. Finally. MAYBE our president, is on our side.

Maybe. We will see.

The amount we have been sold out already, is staggering.


13 posted on 05/17/2019 7:46:41 PM PDT by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
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