Our optimism about Mr. Trump’s trade war with China continues to be rewarded. While most American’s have been listening to the Western media and never-Trumpers, we’ve looked elsewhere for insight. And we’ve shared it here, including some of the most important insights of all. Observes in China view Mr. Trump as an excellent strategist and tactician.
My interlocutors say that Mr Trump is the US first president for more than 40 years to bash China on three fronts simultaneously: trade, military and ideology. They describe him as a master tactician, focusing on one issue at a time, and extracting as many concessions as he can.
While CNN and MSNBC had wall-to-wall coverage over something The Donald said about ice cream or the latest tweet, the Chinese were marveling at his methodology. Because of how trade and logistics work between the nations the President’s target tariffs hurt Chinese businesses far more than American.
Even his press conference with Putin is viewed with respect from China.
Mr. Trump’s sycophantic press conference with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, in Helsinki had a strategic purpose. They see it as Henry Kissinger in reverse. In 1972, the US nudged China off the Soviet axis in order to put pressure on its real rival, the Soviet Union. Today Mr. Trump is reaching out to Russia in order to isolate China.
They think he knows what he is doing and reacting accordingly.
The Successes of the “Master Tactician”
In December we learned that China was lowering tariffs on US vehicles. And today’s news is that China will increase purchases of US goods to reduce the trade deficit to zero.
China has offered to make up the trade imbalance with the United States…Chinese officials made the offer during negotiations in Beijing earlier in January, the report said. China would increase its annual import of U.S. goods by a combined value of over $1 trillion, the officials told Bloomberg.
The Chinese will purchase roughly 323 Billion more in goods annually from US manufacturers on average through 2024 when the trade deficit target is zero.
Is Mr. Obama going to jump in and claim credit for that?
One more point for President Trump.
Volkswagen will be spending 800 million dollars in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They will be making Electric Cars. Congratulations to Chattanooga and Tennessee on a job well done. A big win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2019
I wish they were building real cars, but Volkswagon is making the investment in the US. Given past reporting on German Care makers folding to US pressure, I can’t help but think this doesn’t happen without Trump in the Oval Office.
None of the Trade changes in China, certainly.
