In a sort of companion piece to Mr. Ignatius’s column, the editors of the Washington Post argue for surrender:
The question is what Mr. Trump proposes to do now that he has Beijing’s attention. One approach would be to continue condemning China’s failure to meet U.S. demands, and press ahead with higher tariffs, then settle in for what might be a protracted trade war. But the collateral damage to U.S. businesses and consumers would be severe. The wiser course, which Mr. Trump has hinted at adopting in recent days, would be a temporary truce: a further delay in additional U.S. tariffs in return for comparable Chinese concessions, to be followed by negotiations — serious negotiations — on the full range of issues between the two countries.
They are behind the curve. We will have been in a Cold War with China for 17 years come this December 11. We just haven’t been fighting back. We have experienced millions of casualties. The editors of the Washington Post are unconcerned because the casualties haven’t been their friends, families, or even people they associate with or like. They’ve been the proles.
We must demand reciprocity from the Chinese and accept no less. At the very least they should live up immediately to the commitments they made when they were admitted to the World Trade Organization or be summarily expelled. Another strategy for motivating the Chinese authorities is by using tariffs. They are part of the process of securing the concessions the editors are seeking. A one-sided concession from the U. S. would be foolish in the extreme.
What would the editors prefer? Embargo? Blockade? What other leverage do they think we have?
Our leverage would dramatically increase if the WaPo and other news outlets gave the Chinese leadership the impression that they support our president. As it stands, the Chicoms see that they only have to wait for Jan. 3 for the impeachment trial to begin to override any interest congress has in the economy, Chinese trade practices, or any other matter of national survival or interest.
Fifth column.
My views are unchanged. I’m a staunch free trader. I just wish we could find some. This so called trade war will be messy, but is necessary. Undoing – I’ll take your 17 yr estimate – bad policy is always messy.
I continue to be amazed by media commentary. No doubt Trump hatred motivated, all they focus on are the trade war casualties and the stock market. But have you noticed? The market moves in lockstep with Fed speculation, not trade. Just look at this week. And who speaks for those hurt by the old trade posture. At the national level, only one man.
While my mind reading powers are non existent, reasonable to conclude the current system is making the right people rich and the thought of losing a zero or two off their net worth is intolerable. So, it must be defended.
only one man. Amen.
“only one man.”
Truly is a cult of personality isn’t it?
Steve
What neither the Post nor Donald Trump will acknowledge is that there is, in essence, a fifth column in this if war it be. American executives are, as the GM slaughter exemplifies, working from within to weaken American economic might. The inability of the president to respond forcefully to that reality is the holy grail for a half-competent Democrat in 2020.
The ads, of a weak Donald Trump who “can’t stand up to greedy corporations and won’t fight for American workers” write themselves, and hit exactly where Trump is weakest. The shift of a few tens of thousands of votes in three former manufacturing states, and we’re inaugurating President Ojeda the following January.