Trump wins the first round in US-China trade war
This was an external opinion piece in the editorial section of the Hill. Pretty much explains the prose and Trump book references..
Now, for a more subdued take on the subject at hand. The extensive list of United States trade demands was unexpectedly sweeping, and showed that the Trump administration has no intention of backing down despite Beijing’s assertive stance in the last few days.
“The list reads like the terms for a surrender rather than a basis for negotiation,” said Eswar Prasad, an economics professor at Cornell University.
Here are the highlights of the demands:
China must …
•
Cut its trade surplus by $100 billion in the 12 months starting in June, and by another $100 billion in the following 12 months.
•
Halt all subsidies to advanced manufacturing industries in its so-called Made In China 2025 program. The program covers 10 sectors, including aircraft manufacturing, electric cars, robotics, computer microchips and artificial intelligence.
•
Accept that the United States may restrict imports from the industries under Made in China 2025.
• Take “immediate, verifiable steps” to
halt cyber-espionage into commercial networks in the United States.
•
Strengthen intellectual property protections.
•
Accept United States restrictions on Chinese investments in sensitive technologies without retaliating.
•
Cut its tariffs, which currently average 10 percent, to the same level as in the United States, where they average 3.5 percent for all “noncritical sectors.”
•
Open up its services and agricultural sectors to full American competition.
The United States also stipulated that the two sides should meet every quarter to review progress.
If you think about it a little, the above is basically the US saying "agree to these terms that will ensure US superiority indefinitely, or else." China's only response will be "ok, we'll take the 'else.'"
Case in point :
China’s schooling Trump on the art of the delay