The World Targets trump Republicans

[Phil1111 1,183]

EU Raises Stakes for Trump by Aiming Levies at GOP Heartland
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-06/eu-targets-u-s-shirts-to-motorbikes-in-tariff-retaliation-plan

China retaliates with tariffs on U.S. products worth $50B as markets skid
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/china-tariffs-hike-1.4604182

"Unlike Washington's list, which was filled with many obscure industrial items, China's list strikes at signature U.S. exports, including soybeans, frozen beef, cotton and other key agricultural commodities produced in states from Iowa to Texas that voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

"This is a real game changer and moves the trade dispute away from symbolism to measures which would really hurt U.S agricultural exports," said Commerzbank commodities analyst Carsten Fritsch."

Inflatable boats, felt pens and beer kegs: Here's what Canada targeted with tariffs, and why
http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/inflatable-boats-felt-pens-and-beer-kegs-heres-what-canada-targeted-with-tariffs-and-why

Mexico targets Republican strongholds with pork, bourbon tariffs
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/latin-american-business/article-mexico-slaps-retaliatory-tariffs-on-us-steel-and-agricultural/

"Mexico’s trade negotiators designed the list, in part, to include products exported by top Republican leaders’ states, including Indiana where Vice President Mike Pence was formerly governor, according to a trade source familiar with the matter. Bourbon-producing Kentucky is the home state of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican.

The new tariffs could also have political implications in some hotly contested races as the Republicans seek to maintain control of both chambers in Congress in November’s election, illustrating the potential perils of Trump’s aggressive efforts to set right what he sees as unfair trade balances with allies and rivals."

[BIGUN 1,486]

So, you advocate the continued building of a communist country not only into the largest economic superpower? Gotta think beyond today. We need to remember Mao's Cultural revolution. As the Chinese people learn more about the western standard of living - they're not going to settle for a per capita $16,000 dollar GDP.

In 1949, the Communist Party of China led by Mao established the People's Republic of China, which would later follow its own ideological path of Communist development. Communist states such as Soviet Union and China succeeded in becoming industrial and technological powers and NOW economic superpower; challenging the capitalist powers in the arms race, the space race and military conflicts. In my opinion, we could be in a war with China having fueled the military arm with our own money.

On a "right-now" economic front; U.S. exports to China were only $130 billion while imports from China were $506 billion. U.S. companies that can't compete with cheap Chinese goods must either lower their costs or go out of business. Many businesses have reduced their costs by outsourcing jobs to China or India. Outsourcing adds to U.S. unemployment. Other industries have just dried up. U.S. manufacturing, as measured by the number of jobs, declined 34 percent between 1998 and 2010. As these industries declined, so has U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace. We're losing our core base. In chess; we're not hanging on to our Queen.

These anti-China protectionist measures may impose tariffs on $30 billion of Chinese imports. But, it's also designed to have China remove requirements that U.S. companies transfer technology to Chinese firms. China requires companies to do this to gain access to China's market. That is an economic disadvantage to our own interests.

I; for one, am not inclined to economically fuel our potential future adversaries (as we've done how many times in the past?). While the communist doctrine holds that it's "for" the working class to replace the wealthy ruling class, through revolutionary action, in order to establish a peaceful free society without classes or government - it has yet to work out that way. We're about the same age - so, you've seen how communism works.

I have always been opposed to "Made in China" and am willing to "tighten up the belt" to getting back to and being THE economic superpower we once were.

On a separate note; I've always been opposed to selling our debt to other nations and have opposed every President's position to do so. And, we as Americans have not been willing to balance the budget, tighten up our personal purse strings, and prevent the current situation from occurring. But, we can do better for the future.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Phil1111 1,183]

trump believes that Chinese jobs should be saved.

That violations of US law by reselling sensitive US chips and technology to US enemies. Actions that resulted in a ban of seven years. Should all mean nothing and ZTE should be rewarded with new licensees.

"ZTE is one of China’s leading makers of Android phones and wireless-network equipment. The company had $17 billion in revenue last year and, in March, a market value of $24 billion. That month, the company admitted to illegally exporting technology to Iran and North Korea in violation of U.S. trade sanctions. The U.S. Commerce Department fined the company more than $1 billion. At the time, ZTE vowed to reprimand employees who violated the sanctions.

Instead, the company fired a handful of employees and gave bonuses to others responsible for the violations. In response, the U.S. banned U.S. companies from exporting components necessary to ZTE’s survival. The components include everything from Qualcomm chips to Google’s mobile operating system.

The move was effectively a death sentence for ZTE, which a few weeks later announced it was shutting down. Shortly after, President Trump tweeted he would work with Chinese president Xi Jinping to reverse the ban, since it would lead to “too many jobs in China lost.” ZTE employs 75,000 workers and says it has business operations in more than 160 countries...


Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!
8:01 AM - 13 May 2018
http://fortune.com/2018/06/13/zte-trump-china-heres-fuss-all-about/

China Holdings of U.S. Debt Rose in 2017 by Most in Seven Years
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-15/china-2017-holdings-of-u-s-treasuries-rise-most-in-seven-years

[BIGUN 1,486]

You do get that he's in negotiations, right?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[billvon 3,119]

>I; for one, am not inclined to economically fuel our potential future adversaries
>(as we've done how many times in the past?).

It is unfortunate, then, that under that premise, our "adversaries" (Canada, the EU, Germany, Mexico) are some of our strongest trading partners, while the "friendly" countries we are fueling (Russia, China) mean us harm.

[kallend 2,150]

billvon

>I; for one, am not inclined to economically fuel our potential future adversaries
>(as we've done how many times in the past?).

It is unfortunate, then, that under that premise, our "adversaries" (Canada, the EU, Germany, Mexico) are some of our strongest trading partners, while the "friendly" countries we are fueling (Russia, China) mean us harm.

Not to mention that a brutal dictator of the most repressive regime on Earth, who had his uncle killed with AAA fire and his brother with nerve gas, is an "honorable man".

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[RonD1120 62]

BIGUN

You do get that he's in negotiations, right?

We are experiencing recovery.

One of the main principles of recovery is that you only have to change one thing. That one thing is defined as everything.

Remember if nothing changes, nothing changes.

Those are catchphrases from the field of substance abuse treatment.

We are enjoying a substantial economic growth at this time. I really don't expect anything from the past several years to remain the same.

To paraphrase Lew Wallace, Every calculation based on experience from the Obama administration fails with the Trump administration.

Thank God, Donald Trump is the POTUS.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Phil1111 1,183]

BIGUN

You do get that he's in negotiations, right?

All trade agreements have sections that deal with property and intellectual rights. Together with the mechanisms to deal with such violations.

If trump was concerned with Chinese theft of intellectual property rights. That should be a focus of the negotiations not tariff wars. Tariffs unite a country with their government to fight such measures. The whole idea that US negotiators were presidents for free trade, for NAFTA, agreements. Is stupid and intellectually dishonest.

trump consistently brings up a US balance of trade deficit. As THE cause of bad trade agreements. They have nothing to do with each other. They have everything to do with tax law (no GST, VAT) that favor consumption over savings. The desire of Americans to buy cheap Chinese crap.

Canada and the EU in general have much higher environmental and social tax costs than the US does. The other trading partners less so. US subsidies to farmers, defense industries, aerospace match or exceed most if not all US trading partners.

No country will fail to respond in kind to trump's bulling tariffs and negotiating bluster. It would be political suicide for any other countries leader. To bow down or defer to what amounts to US imperialism on trade.

trump has put a condition into the current NAFTA negotiations that the agreement have a five year limit. Absolutely stupid. What corporation is going to build a factory or negotiate input sharing agreements. For only a five year life span? Such ideas are nothing less than monkey wrenches thrown into negotiations in order to appeal to his base.

Its like the trump tweet
"Trump tweeted, "Canada charges the U.S. a 270% tariff on Dairy Products! They didn’t tell you that, did they? Not fair to our farmers!"

That number is a reasonable estimate of Canada’s dairy tariffs, which are high by any standard. That said, the United States has recently run a sizable trade surplus with Canada in dairy products,(In a previous post on the dairy issue I referenced a $400 million US trade surplus in dairy) driven by a strong business in a milk product that was unaffected by the high tariffs. Trump also glosses over the fact that the United States imposes its own trade barriers on certain American-made products.

The statement is basically accurate but needs clarification, so we rate it Mostly True.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/jun/13/donald-trump/fact-checking-donald-trumps-tweets-about-canadas-2/

US subsidies for farmers, oil, aerospace, etc. were all negotiated into current agreements. Something that trump and his base refuse to acknowledge.

[Phil1111 1,183]

RonD1120

***You do get that he's in negotiations, right?

We are experiencing recovery.

One of the main principles of recovery is that you only have to change one thing. That one thing is defined as everything.

Remember if nothing changes, nothing changes.

Those are catchphrases from the field of substance abuse treatment.

We are enjoying a substantial economic growth at this time. I really don't expect anything from the past several years to remain the same.

To paraphrase Lew Wallace, Every calculation based on experience from the Obama administration fails with the Trump administration.

Thank God, Donald Trump is the POTUS.

Everything happens for a reason. I personally don't believe that but I reference God and religion.

God, in due course, will reward America for its sins in embracing trump. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Its just unfortunate that the majority of righteous Americas are punished for the misdeeds of the minority tribe.

[BIGUN 1,486]

kallend

***>I; for one, am not inclined to economically fuel our potential future adversaries
>(as we've done how many times in the past?).

It is unfortunate, then, that under that premise, our "adversaries" (Canada, the EU, Germany, Mexico) are some of our strongest trading partners, while the "friendly" countries we are fueling (Russia, China) mean us harm.

Not to mention that a brutal dictator of the most repressive regime on Earth, who had his uncle killed with AAA fire and his brother with nerve gas, is an "honorable man".

Both strong points. I got nothing.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Bob_Church 7]

BIGUN

******>I; for one, am not inclined to economically fuel our potential future adversaries
>(as we've done how many times in the past?).

It is unfortunate, then, that under that premise, our "adversaries" (Canada, the EU, Germany, Mexico) are some of our strongest trading partners, while the "friendly" countries we are fueling (Russia, China) mean us harm.

Not to mention that a brutal dictator of the most repressive regime on Earth, who had his uncle killed with AAA fire and his brother with nerve gas, is an "honorable man".

Both strong points. I got nothing.

Our President isn't negotiating for the people of North Korea, but for those of us in the US.

[gowlerk 2,277]

Quote

Our President isn't negotiating for the people of North Korea, but for those of us in the US.

But how does that justify calling Kim an "honourable man"?

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[pchapman 280]

The problem is always that the words a politician uses in the news for domestic consumption may be different than those directed face to face to the politician they are meeting -- yet what is said in the news will make it to that other politician.

So Trump wants to play nice a little with Kim, and not always insult him, while the public also want reassurance that he doesn't actually look up to the brutal dictator as a role model in good governance.

It's hard to find the happy medium. Acting nicely to nasty people is part of diplomacy. I'll leave it to others to debate whether Trump was sucking up too much, and whether that tendency of his towards dictators (despite earlier twitter attacks) actually achieved something useful in the world (even if the promises are all relatively vague).

[gowlerk 2,277]

Yes, bombast or consistancy? No question which one Trump will choose.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

There is no requirement for Canada to honour American patents. Canada should just stop protecting the US pharmaceutical industry and stop US patent enforcement in Canada.

Let's see how long Trump and the GOP will withstand the pharma lobby.

[billvon 3,119]

Quote

There is no requirement for Canada to honour American patents. Canada should just stop protecting the US pharmaceutical industry and stop US patent enforcement in Canada.

"I heard failing Canada stopped with the medical patent thing and that their autism rates went through the roof! When will Canada start caring about their own children? Sad!"

[Phil1111 1,183]

SkyDekker

There is no requirement for Canada to honour American patents. Canada should just stop protecting the US pharmaceutical industry and stop US patent enforcement in Canada.

Let's see how long Trump and the GOP will withstand the pharma lobby.

Pharma patent protections are covered by NAFTA and other treaties. But I did read about a similar suggestion in the last week. Since trump doesn't seem too worried about honoring trade agreements its certainly an option. Big pharma is the largest US lobby force with massive hordes of cash that they throw about to congress.

"Pharmaceuticals are a prime example. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry supports 4.8 million American jobs and has a total economic output of $1.3 trillion in total value of goods and services. Pharmaceutical innovation is naturally key to improving and extending lives with new tests, treatments and cures. In 2016, U.S. biopharmaceutical companies spent nearly $90 billion on research and development. If they can't make profits from that investment, the cures will be delayed or won’t happen.

NAFTA was originally billed as one of the first trade deals ever to safeguard intellectual property that flows over national borders. That hasn’t been the case in practice. Canada’s patent protections have been weaker than ours and so the Canadian courts have invalidated some two dozen patents by American pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer.

While Ottawa has reversed some of the blatant abuses, Canada and Mexico are now imposing back door price controls on American breakthrough drugs. Under a new pricing proposal called “benchmarking,” Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board will consider a drug price “excessive” if it exceeds a median figure charged in other nations, excluding the United States. But as a humanitarian initiative, the United States often offers drugs at very low prices in poor nations that can’t afford the global market price. ‎Canada and Mexico are not Botswana."
http://thehill.com/opinion/international/369413-nafta-20-needs-to-protect-american-business-patents

But if trump wants to be an idiot Canada could be Botswana.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

Pharma patent protections are covered by NAFTA and other treaties.

So are tariffs. Can't ignore it on one side and demand protection on the other side.

[Phil1111 1,183]

SkyDekker

Quote

Pharma patent protections are covered by NAFTA and other treaties.

So are tariffs. Can't ignore it on one side and demand protection on the other side.

This is what happens when nutty ideas like winning trade wars is defined as "easy".

Trump doubles down: 'Trade wars are good, and easy to win'
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/trump-trade-wars-are-good-and-easy-to-win.html

10 minutes ago:

Trump calls for tariffs on additional $200B in Chinese goods as trade war ramps up
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/392906-trump-directs-trade-representative-to-prepare-tariffs-on-additional-200

Anybody wanna bet that Xi and China are not going to turn the other cheek.

[headoverheels 334]

Phil1111

10 minutes ago:

Trump calls for tariffs on additional $200B in Chinese goods as trade war ramps up
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/392906-trump-directs-trade-representative-to-prepare-tariffs-on-additional-200

Anybody wanna bet that Xi and China are not going to turn the other cheek.

Somehow, I don't think I'm going to like what my retirement account does tomorrow.

[Phil1111 1,183]

headoverheels

***
10 minutes ago:

Trump calls for tariffs on additional $200B in Chinese goods as trade war ramps up
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/392906-trump-directs-trade-representative-to-prepare-tariffs-on-additional-200

Anybody wanna bet that Xi and China are not going to turn the other cheek.

Somehow, I don't think I'm going to like what my retirement account does tomorrow.

"China has vowed to retaliate with quantitative and qualitative measures if the United States goes ahead with its additional tariff plan against Beijing.

The Ministry of Commerce said the new threat from US President Donald Trump of imposing tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese products was an act of “blackmail”, which was against earlier agreements and disappointed the international community.

“If the US side loses sanity to launch the list, China will be forced to take comprehensive measures combining both quantitative and qualitative ones as a powerful hit-back,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday."
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2151361/trump-threatens-slam-china-us200-billion-new-tariffs-unless

BREAKING: Dow is set to drop more than 350 points as Trump ratchets up pressure on China with more tariffs
https://www.cnbc.com/pre-markets/

Remember, its easy to win trade wars, its the Dems fault and anyway Hillary did it first.

[yoink 321]

headoverheels

***
10 minutes ago:

Trump calls for tariffs on additional $200B in Chinese goods as trade war ramps up
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/392906-trump-directs-trade-representative-to-prepare-tariffs-on-additional-200

Anybody wanna bet that Xi and China are not going to turn the other cheek.

Somehow, I don't think I'm going to like what my retirement account does tomorrow.

I was just thinking that.

Invest in Russia. I hear that's what all the smart people do. The best people.

[DanG 1]

What? No, no, no. The best people have nothing to do with Russia. They have never even heard of Russia. Can't even find Russia on a map. Heck, the best people think that the very existence of Russia is fake news.

- Dan G