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Trump Seems Eager To Let Communism Fix U.S. Trade Imbalance
Yes, that is a very cynical view, as the U.S. edges toward a trade deal with China. But we think it’s also mostly accurate.
Especially since Trump’s priority seems to be getting China to buy so much more U.S. agriculture products (mostly soybeans and pork — China already owns the U.S.’s Smithfield, the world’s biggest pork producer), it’ll make our heads spin. Fortunately, he’s got Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on this, who’s been keeping equal or more emphasis on measures to verify China will stick to any promises it makes about opening markets and respecting intellectual property, which it’s agreed to in the past, and then hasn’t done so. If the deal accomplishes that, it’ll all be worth it, it’ll be a good thing Trump has done, and there’s no need to read any further.
Trump Thursday met with China’s vice-Premier and chief trade negotiator in the Oval Office, but did not go as far as announcing a summit with China’s President Xi, as many news organizations had predicted he would. Trump’s been itching to meet with Xi at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate a trade pact (because who wouldn’t want to go to Mar-a-Lago)? But for now, he’ll have to settle for a “beautiful letter” from Xi (because world leaders know Trump really likes getting…
