this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2025
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Trump gives China one day to end retaliations or face extra 50% tariffs (arstechnica.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Deceptichum@quokk.au to c/world@quokk.au
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Tech companies' worst nightmare ahead of Donald Trump's election has already come true, as the US and China are now fully engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war, where China claims it expects to be better positioned to withstand US blows long-term.

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[–] protist@mander.xyz 59 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

So basically everything the US imports from China is going to suddenly cost 84% more. I'm really struggling to see Trump's end game here, because when domestic inflation inevitably gets out of control, the populace is going to get angry and he's going to become deeply unpopular.

The only two possibilities are 1.) He's purposefully wrecking the US economy, either to end US global hegemony and appease the Russians or to appease the tech billionaires and Heritage Foundation-types who want to destroy the federal government, or 2.) He's a moron who doesn't understand even basic economics

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Simply put, he truly believes that other countries are "taking advantage" of the US: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7st2oG5AwU

It stems from a zero-sum world view, where every trade is someone gaining or losing something, reminiscint of old European mercantilism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism

...Which Europe figured out didn't work by like 1800, something they teach in US history classes.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

At a more basic level, this is likely another manifestation of Trump's narcissistic personality disorder. He genuinely cannot conceive of sacrifice, service, or giving of himself, he's only interested in what he can take from you, whether that's money, reputation, or adoration. Now it's playing out on the global stage

[–] Pistcow@lemm.ee 11 points 2 weeks ago

why not both!?

[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

If I'm in a generous mood, I think I can sort of explain it, but none of it comes from Trump, he's just not smart enough to give much of a shit. This is more the Project 2025 types.

It seems to me that Republicans have decided that a series of decisions that were made in the 90s (largely authored by big business and therefore, Republicans) that... for lack of a better term - liberalized global trade - were a mistake, and they are intent on reversing them at all costs.

Decisions like NAFTA, PNTR/WTO for China, etc. These things led to cheap goods which kept inflation low and profits high for US corporations. But they also largely wiped out domestic manufacturing and led to reliance on China for a lot of really important shit. It's hard to understate that by 2020, China controlled 80% of rare earth supplies and 90% of global electronics manufacturing.

They want to bring us back to the way things were in the 1910s for social policy (eliminate both abortion and a woman's right to vote) and they want us back in the 80s when it comes to like domestic trade policy and manufacturing.

The problem, of course, is a) Republicans created the problem in the first place (granted with Democrats' help) and b) "at all costs" means "without regard to whether or not it fucks the average US citizen" which it most certainly will. So we all get to suffer yet again so that the billionaire class has its cake and eats it too.

[–] Krik@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

that… for lack of a better term - liberalized global trade - were a mistake, and they are intent on reversing them at all costs.

I wonder if they thought that through. The US might not have an economy left by the time the factories replacing foreign products are set up.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

It'll still have people, and those people will be desperate. Perfect for exploitation.

[–] Redfugee@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's more simple than that. It is consistent with everything he does, it's about achieving more power and wealth. The blanket tariffs hurt everyone and they want businesses to offer the administration a pledge of loyalty (campaign contributions, positive press, fire people in their company that they don't like, etc) in exchange for exceptions on tariffs that they want.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

Problem with that hypothesis is there's plenty of big businesses that have been kissing his ass, but nobody got an exception from the current round of tariffs. See apple and their stock price

[–] baggins@beehaw.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

2 because that leads to 1. Because he thinks he's a very clever businessman. In his mind he is never wrong, everyone else is.

[–] And009@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

Probably not 2, he knows something.

[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

He and his cronies are dumb, and want "manly" factory jobs for everyone because that's what they associate with "real work". That's why the right is so excited about AI replacing intellectual workers: They see it as the punishment for the sin of thinking.

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Isn't 90% of everything made in China? I'm sure that will end well.

[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 39 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We are just pawns in the billionaire world

[–] CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Nah, even pawns can make a move. We don't even get that.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 27 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We can make a move. Billionaires are just betting we won't.

[–] zergtoshi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Mario's younger brother vibes intensify.

[–] SpicyLizards@reddthat.com 26 points 2 weeks ago

Stop retaliating to what we do or we will retaliate!

[–] justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If the US hadnt just pissed off all of its allies, it might stand a chance against China, which has been preparing for this for at least 20 years

[–] shawn1122@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

China controls 90% of global production and refining capacity of rare earth minerals. They started investing in the 1980s.

This was going to be tough for the US even with allies by their side.

The nightmare scenario is China cuts the US off completely and the US responds with some form of military action.

[–] justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io 0 points 1 week ago

They started buying up the rare earth mines in South America in the late 2000s.

[–] endeavor@sopuli.xyz 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Whole buncha people who voted for this suddenly gonna say they didn't.

[–] klu9@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 weeks ago

It's time for the world economy to treat the US the way the internet treats damage and route around it.

[–] rhvg@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

What does China need from the US anyway

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] But_my_mom_says_im_cool@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Americans need to sell those beans as much as the Chinese need to buy them

[–] Letstakealook@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago

I'd argue that the need to sell is greater. Not only is the product perishable, but often times farmers are leveraged at the beginning of the season and then pay off that yearly debt once the product sells. Now, the season hasn't started yet, but that doesn't mean loans haven't been taken out and money already spent. If this doesn't get wrapped up by Sep/Oct, we'll see plenty of folks/corporations literally losing the farm.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Access to the largest market in the world. Its the reason everyone is still trying to get the tariffs taken off. America consumes a shit ton and people want access to that.

[–] shawn1122@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

China was smart by creating their own versions of all the services the US offers.

The only reason the US is the nation that holds the most purchasing power in the world (20% of global purchasing power) is because it's a net exporter of services and much of the world respects its intellectual property.

The minute people start wiping their asses with US IP, it's game over.

Why can't there be a EU/Canadian/South American etc version of Uber, Netflix, YouTube, App stores, Visa etc? Even if the world moves away from their services just on the basis of principle, it will have an enormous impact.