I struggle to understand why some people paint President Trump as the villain in this tariff war. Let’s not forget that China has long banned or restricted many U.S. products and services. Trump’s tariffs are a response to China’s unfair trade practices, which have persisted for over a decade. Beyond tariffs, China blocks major U.S. companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google from operating in its market. In my view, China hasn’t been playing fair. They restrict foreign goods and services in their country while expecting open access for their own products abroad. That’s hardly equitable. I’m surprised the U.S. didn’t act sooner. If China wants tariff-free trade, they should remove their own tariffs and restrictions on U.S. products and services. If they refuse, they have no right to complain about U.S. retaliation.
If it has to be equalized, it means that not all play fair, in global market competition every country wants to raise the price of goods and tries to force competing countries to buy because the demand level continues to rise. Trump and China are no better, the impact is only that consumers have to follow the direction of the game of goods prices when basic income does not increase. We still force ourselves to buy goods, right?