Trump calls for more tariffs on China

News Summary

  • Last October, he imposed export restrictions on semiconductor technology and is considering new rules on outbound investment to China.What we’re watching: Trump stopped short of calling for a total decoupling of the two economies.
  • Between the lines: Some Republicans from farm states have tempered their enthusiasm for aggressively confronting China with concerns that any retaliation could devastate their home-state agricultural industries.
  • The bottom line: Positions that once were unthinkable — such as imposing 25% tariffs on America’s third biggest trading partner — are now consensus views.
President Trump escalated his attacks on China at CPAC last night, testing his ability to move the U.S. toward a more confrontational approach on trade with the communist nation.Why it matters The [+4389 chars]