Jeff Spross, The Week: China bets on the blue wave
President Trump finally did it. On Monday, he announced new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports — starting at 10 percent but eventually scheduled to rise to 25 percent. It's a major development, but not a terribly surprising one in the context of Trump's bottomless nationalist belligerence.
What was surprising? China's rather weak-kneed response: Tariffs of 5 to 10 percent on $60 billion worth of American imports.
That's not nothing. But it's also not super-impressive compared to Trump's escalation. And that suggests the Chinese are changing tactics. Specifically, they may be slow-walking Trump until the midterms.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The above author feels confident that China will win this trade war .... regular readers know that I have a different point of view. As to the above author's suggestion that China is holding back .... I do not see that. Their options to retaliate right now are limited, and they know that. As for the author saying that the Chinese are betting on the Democrats winning big in November's elections .... in my opinion they are not betting .... they are praying. On a side note .... President Trump believes China is trying to 'impact' the US election with a trade war.... Trump accuses China of trying to 'impact' US election with trade war (September 20, 2018).
