USA & China: The Trade Showdown
Just one day before Washington rolls out its hefty $200 billion tariff wave—an elegant S$273 billion—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stepped up to make it clear the U.S. plans to come out on top in this escalating trade tussle.
Pompeo’s Bold Pitch
- “We’re going to win it,” Pompeo quipped in a Fox News interview.
- He noted that success means “forcing China to behave”—transparent, rule‑of‑law, and not poaching U.S. intellectual property.
- “If you’re going to be a global power, you’ve got to play by the rules,” he added.
Trump’s Stance & Trump‑Xii Dynamics
Pompeo hinted that President Donald Trump is “very much likes” his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, but vows to champion policies that look out for American workers. He’s willing to press hard where it counts.
Background Highlights
- Before Trump even got into office, the U.S. had long complained about China “stealing” tech and demanding secrets from firms wanting to tap into China’s booming market.
- Under Trump, the hard‑line stance sharpened, culminating in a $200 billion tariff on Chinese goods scheduled to kick in Monday.
- China throws back with a $60 billion tariff on U.S. products—both sides already imposing about $50 billion on each other.
- Breaking new ground, the administration also penalized a Chinese defense ministry unit for popping up fighter jets and missiles from Moscow in spite of sanctions.
All these moves paint a picture of a trade war that’s turning into a global “bargaining battle”—with the U.S. aiming to win, China fiercely retaliating, and the world watching the high‑stakes play unfold.
