Trump's big trade battle with China kicks off Friday

President Trump will give a speech at the White House on Friday, and will sign a memo directing his trade representative to go after Chinese theft of intellectual property and the way U.S. companies are forced to share technology with Chinese firms, as Axios scooped yesterday. Administration officials say Trump is doing this because of complaints he's heard from Silicon Valley executives saying Chinese IP theft is one of their biggest challenges (Peter Thiel was involved in crafting this new step). What happens next: About a week after Trump's announcement, the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, is expected to announce that he's initiating an investigation into unfair Chinese trade practices — using a rarely-used tool, section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigation paves the path to the U.S. taking potentially aggressive retaliatory actions against China such as tariffs on Chinese imports or rescinding licenses for Chinese companies wanting to do business in the U.S. Keep reading 188 words

Context: Chinese IP theft has long been an issue for some tech companies like Microsoft. It's also a major issue for agriculture and manufacturing - and any sector that has proprietary information related to their production practices. U.S. administrations and companies have been wary about publicly confronting the Chinese government, preferring to do things behind closed doors and in a more diplomatic approach.

See the WOUND FILAMENT..? It's sort of like a compacted white SLINKY, right?

It's super light and strong. It's much, much more advanced than conventional paneling.

It means a much higher % of the total weight of the missile can be devoted to fuel, resulting in much greater range.

What you have is basically a column of fuel, with the container an afterthought, almost, instead of this big heavy thing that happens to have SOME fuel in it.

This was considered far ahead of NK tech, but soooo suddenly they bust out with THIS.

That's extremely suspicious.

The USA has been being PLAYED by China, and B.O. didn't care, he even considered it Our Comeuppance. He saw it as JUSTICE to that Bad Slaver Country, the USA.

China is not going to help us with NK. They are an enabler. Where do you think the Norks are getting the supplies and equipment for their military and industrial sectors?

China has been engaged in unfair trading practices and current manipulation for years. We have been running huge trade imbalances. They need us far more than we need them.

The world’s largest exporter, China shipped US$2.119 trillion worth of products around the globe in 2016. That figure represents roughly 13.1% of overall global exports estimated at $16.236 trillion one year earlier in 2015.

From a continental perspective, half (49.8%) of China’s total exports by value in 2016 were delivered to other Asian trade partners.

North American importers purchased 21.2% of Chinese shipments while 18.5% worth arrived in European countries.

Below is a list highlighting 15 of China’s top trading partners in terms of export sales. That is, these countries imported the most Chinese shipments by dollar value during 2016. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Chinese exports.

1. United States: US$388.1 billion (18.3% of total Chinese exports)

2. Hong Kong: $292.2 billion (13.8%)

3. Japan: $129.5 billion (6.1%)

4. South Korea: $94.7 billion (4.5%)

5. Germany: $65.8 billion (3.1%)

6. Vietnam: $61.6 billion (2.9%)

7. India: $58.9 billion (2.8%)

8. Netherlands: $57.7 billion (2.7%)

9. United Kingdom: $56.3 billion (2.7%)

10. Singapore: $45.8 billion (2.2%)

11. Taiwan: $40.4 billion (1.9%)

12. Malaysia: $38.5 billion (1.8%)

13. Thailand: $37.7 billion (1.8%)

14. Australia: $37.6 billion (1.8%)

15. Russia: $37.5 billion (1.8%)

Exactamundo!

What worries me more than anything is today’s China is very different. When they came to N. Korea’s aid in 1950, they were very weak. Now they have a much stronger economy and military. Whereas in 1950 they were in rags and transporting equipment via bicycle, today they have an enormous military capable of waging hardcore warfare. The N. Koreans were defeated early on. The Chinese were not. Many people don’t know that the Korean War should be called the War With China in Korea as it was basically fought with the forces of China. They were under-equipped but they fought savagely and killed many of our soldiers. Some were taken prisoner into China itself and forced to denounce America on Chinese radio. Some of our solders have never been seen or heard from since they left in 1950. It was awful in 1950. What do people think it will be like this time? Make no mistake, China WILL not stand for an American assault on the N. Korean regime. They will come to it’s aid again.

This isn’t going to pan out like the trigger happies think.

—”Everything is made in China now. Bring production back to America.”

Yes, that would be fantastic... I’m all on board for your enthusiasm.

But have you thought more deeply about this problem? Specifically, how can US workers make a shirt that retails for $10-$20, yet STILL maintain their spoiled standard of living? They can’t.

American labor is very expensive on a global scale, so products made here can’t compete.

I, too, would like for manufacturing to return to the US, but I just can’t see how we’d be competitive with our $10-$15 minimum wages and high standard of living.

I’d like you to provide a thoughtful solution to the problem of wage differential between China & USA.

I think only a fraction of overseas manufacturing can be realistically brought back here to the US.

Also, workers here are so “entitled” and sue their employers for anything from sexual harassment and discrimination to on-the-job injuries.

Our economy is imploding.

The stats don’t reflect that, but it is hollow. We are sending more and more jobs overseas.

We are importing more, and more. Always more. Go in any Walmart, any Sears, any stereo store, and hardware store, in any town, in any state, across the USA.

EVERYTHING is made in China.

Trump seems to be saying the right things. But not yet acting on these concerns.

Trump it’s already 10% through your first term.

I say, be more aggressive on trade. Much more aggressive.

I’m sorry to burst both your bubbles, but “everything” is not made in China. The U.S. doesn’t compete based upon price. What America makes is called value-added products and they often cost more but still outsell China’s products.

The U.S. ranked first in manufacturing output every year until 2012. The reason China SLIGHTLY edged ahead was due to the Great Recession and U.S. output dropped by one-third. The U.S.’s output has grown every year since 2009.

There are many things in my home that are made in the U.S. My 3 iron skillets, some of my cookware, my glassware, most of my plastic items (the U.S. is the leader in plastic polymers). Most of my consumer items like toothpaste, detergents, hair care, cleaners, soap, bleach (the U.S. has huge consumer goods and chemical industries). Some of my furniture (metal and glass shelves, recliner, chest, tables, sofa, computer desk) is even made here (A Chinese firm bought the Craftmaster furniture plant behind my house and upgraded it and still manufactures there today daily). All my mattresses were made by Serta, Beauty Rest, and Sealy and all made in the U.S. My fireproof/waterproof safe is made in the U.S. The carpet and hardwood flooring was made in the U.S. (the U.S. is the world leader of carpet manufacture in Georgia). The bricks, drywall, gutters, windows, shingles, soffit, doors, insulation, pipes, toilets, sinks, cabinetry, cement, showers, tubs, and most of the wood in my home was made in U.S. (the U.S. has huge building materials, cement, and lumber industries). My hot water heater was made in the U.S. Thirty minutes from my home is the town of Hickory, NC where 40% of the fiber optic cable and a great percentage of coaxial cable on earth is made and shipped out in huge rolls overseas and around the country. Most of the paper is made in the U.S. (the U.S. has one of the largest paper industries). The U.S. still has major steel making industries (US Steel has record profits and though there is a glut of steel supply, the U.S. industry remains healthy). The U.S. has major defense industries such as highly technologically advanced ships and submarines, aircraft, electronics, tanks, guns, ordinance (the U.S. is the largest producer and exporter of military equipment). Speaking of aircraft the U.S. produces about half of all the world’s civil aviation craft and communications spacecraft (the U.S. has the largest aerospace industry on earth). The U.S. still has the largest semiconductor industry on earth also. The U.S. still has one of the largest transportation industries on earth (cargo trailers, automobiles(ranks second in automobile output globally), trucks, buses). The U.S. is the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of locomotives (GE is #1 and Caterpillar is #2). The U.S. has huge heavy equipment industries (Cat, Deere, CNH, Gradall, Terex, Gehl, Ingersoll-Rand, Manitowoc). The U.S. has the world’s largest pre-fab and modular building industries (even modular skyscrapers in NYC). The U.S. has the largest RV industries in the world (Winnebagos, trailers, campers, fifth wheels). The U.S. is one of the top manufacturers of power generating equipment and nuclear reactors. The U.S. is one of the largest telecommunications equipment makers too such as cell towers, cables, and signalling apparatus. And the U.S. does still possess a small but lively clothing and footwear industry consisting mostly of hand made designer suits, gowns, shirts, socks, underwear, shoes, and boots but also of sportswear and outdoor element protection.

There are many others. It’s not true nothing is made in the U.S. anymore. And it’s not true we compete based on price. Basic economics.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.