Singled out by Trump, China has the 'leverage to retaliate' and nothing to lose(www.scmp.com)

5 pointsby etiam9 days ago1 comment

hilbert429 days ago
Unfortunately, I don't see these tariffs working out well for the US unless American consumers actively cooperate and actually stop buying Chinese goods.
The article mentions there's 30/40% profit on Chinese exports which means China could effectively absorb increases due to tariffs and lower prices and American consumers would continue to buy.
US consumers must stop buying goods from China in enough numbers for it to have a negative effect on the Chinese economy. Most of us in the West have gotten used to buying cheap goods from there and I reckon it'll be damn hard to kick the habit.
- watwut9 days ago
  Why would westerners stop buying China goods? Americans can do it if the tariffs make the goods too expensive ... but if they are not, there is about zero motivation to harm yourself.
  Canada has consumer boycott against USA. EU is being attacked by USA, not by China. Americans themselves were not attacked by anyone but their own government, so why would they stopped buying Chinese?
  - jqpabc1239 days ago
    there is about zero motivation to harm yourself
    And yet US voters did just that by voting for a massive tax increase on themselves by way of tariffs.
    But to be fair, this was only after Trump conned voters into believing tariffs would only hurt China, not them.
    watwut8 days ago
    It was after he convinced them, in no particular order that:
    - He will make prices and inflation go down.
    - That democrats will be horrible on economy.
    - That he will harm trans people for his voters enjoyment.
    - That he will harm liberals for his voters enjoyment.
    - That he will break laws in a way that will harm or at least make angry democrats, liberals and anyone not conservatives.