Is Trump trying to do to China what Reagan did to USSR?

[martybegan]

I think the internal conditions are different, but I am not sure if that helps the Chinese leadership or hurts it.

During the waning days of the Soviet Union, The Russian population was still poor, still dealing with good shortages, but due to the liberalization of Glasnost and Perestroika they finally got to see how shafted they were. The impact of the Eastern Bloc also pulling away is something China does not have to deal with.

However, China's people are far more affluent than the Russians were, however they actually have far less political power.

Trade is the key here. The US has the goods the Chinese people want, the ones used by the Chinese leadership to placate them and make them accept their limited political power.

The only thing we have that they wanted was produce and they can get that elsewhere. They already are.

So the only thing we trade with them is soybeans?

Also, they are having issues getting enough soybeans from other sources.

They quit buying them. They have not collapsed.

How soybeans became China's most powerful weapon in Trump's trade war

They can buy soybeans. They only purchased them from us because it helped offset the trade imbalance. They could have got them elsewhere before.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Figures you are rooting for China in all this.

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

 

[pknopp]

The only thing we have that they wanted was produce and they can get that elsewhere. They already are.

So the only thing we trade with them is soybeans?

Also, they are having issues getting enough soybeans from other sources.

They quit buying them. They have not collapsed.

How soybeans became China's most powerful weapon in Trump's trade war

They can buy soybeans. They only purchased them from us because it helped offset the trade imbalance. They could have got them elsewhere before.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Figures you are rooting for China in all this.

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

 

[justoffal]

Is Trump trying to do to China what Reagan did to USSR?

No. That would be impossible. Reagan broke the USSR's back because they were already a 3rd world country economically, if not militarily. China is not. China has a booming economy. We cannot outspend them militarily like Reagan did. The days of cold war military spending are over.

Sorry, you missed the analogy. Trump is not engaging in a military spending battle the way Reagan did. He appears to be engaging in a trade/currency war to slow the (inevitable?) growth of China to the number one economic power, and perhaps the Yuan becoming the world reserve currency.

Correct.

Jo

 

[martybegan]

So the only thing we trade with them is soybeans?

Also, they are having issues getting enough soybeans from other sources.

They quit buying them. They have not collapsed.

How soybeans became China's most powerful weapon in Trump's trade war

They can buy soybeans. They only purchased them from us because it helped offset the trade imbalance. They could have got them elsewhere before.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Figures you are rooting for China in all this.

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

 

[pknopp]

They quit buying them. They have not collapsed.

How soybeans became China's most powerful weapon in Trump's trade war

They can buy soybeans. They only purchased them from us because it helped offset the trade imbalance. They could have got them elsewhere before.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Figures you are rooting for China in all this.

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

 

[martybegan]

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Figures you are rooting for China in all this.

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

 

[pknopp]

I'm simply stating facts and more places than Russia and the U.S. can grow soy beans.

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

Brazil surpassed us well before 2018. China will fill the void.

 

[martybegan]

The question is can they grow enough, and at a agreeable cost. The US agricultural sector is pretty much unmatched in the ability to grow large amounts of produce for minimal cost.

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

Brazil surpassed us well before 2018. China will fill the void.

Keep rooting for China.

 

[pknopp]

China doesn't seem to be too concerned.

Countries such as Brazil and Argentina with suitable climate and soil have expanded the cultivation areas for soybean production in recent years. Brazil surpassed the US as the world's largest soybean exporter in 2012 and has maintained its leading position since then. In 2018, for example, Brazil exported 66.1 million tons of soybeans to China, far more than the US. And Argentina has exported 5 million to 10 million tons of soybeans to China a year in the past years. So if US soybean exports to China stop, Brazil and Argentina can step in to fill the gap.

US soybeans may lose China's market - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

Brazil surpassed us well before 2018. China will fill the void.

Keep rooting for China.

I'm stating facts. Facts do not change based upon your party. It is notable as it often is, saying something stupid is all you are left with once presented the facts.

 

[martybegan]

Yes a Chinese report saying China will be just fine.

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

Brazil surpassed us well before 2018. China will fill the void.

Keep rooting for China.

I'm stating facts. Facts do not change based upon your party. It is notable as it often is, saying something stupid is all you are left with once presented the facts.

You hide your China rooting behind purporting facts.

 

[pknopp]

The facts are there. You can counter them or not.

The reason US exports dropped in 2018 was because of the Trade war, not because Brazil has more capacity than the US. it also does not explain of China is importing everything it wants.

Brazil surpassed us well before 2018. China will fill the void.

Keep rooting for China.

I'm stating facts. Facts do not change based upon your party. It is notable as it often is, saying something stupid is all you are left with once presented the facts.

You hide your China rooting behind purporting facts.

LOL, even if that was true, they are still facts.

 

[my2¢]

I see it as Trump pursing more of a Nixonist approach of détente with China and North Korea rather than Reagan's hard line.

 

[CowboyTed]

Ronald Reagan effectively took out the Soviets by engaging them in an arms race which they could not economically compete in. Is Trump employing a similar strategy on China? - engaging them in a trade war in order to maintain the the US as the world economic power.

Reagan’s plan was intentional, strategic and decisive. Trump seems to shoot from the hip, flip and then flop. But will it work? His trade/currency war is causing an economic slow down across the globe. How long can he maintain the pressure, and can he stave off the recession long enough to get re-elected?

For the record- I don’t believe Trump is anything like the great RR.

I think that's a decent analogy. Esp given that Lighthizer is the architect of Trump's strategy. The problem is, the EU did a deal on EU companies having to share less IP to enter Chinese markets, while Trump was busy insulting EU leaders.

Reagan had the UK merrily on board, France was a non-player and Germany pretty much did what it was told.

So Reagan had more or less a bilateral confrontation, while Trump is facing three-dimensional chess.

Those are excellent points. Reagan enjoyed the support of countries who were terrified of the USSR and were pleased to have their big brother confront the Soviet bully.

That is why TPP was invented by the US originally... It was to isolate China and India while creating fair markets in the far east... The increase in conditions in Vietnam and Indonesia would then put pressure on China while loosing manufacturing to the former countries.

This game book is already being played in Eastern Europe between EU and Russia, EU is winning hands down... Russia set up Eurasian Economic Union... EU is over three times richer and 12 times bigger economy...