How did Trump shift the Republicans from a free trade party to a pro-tariffs party? Free trade was a tent pole issue for Republicans.
Easy! It wasn't "free trade"!
Now CHINA AGREES!!!
President Xi Jinping highlighted the need to speed up protections in a speech last year, calling for stricter enforcement and for infringers to pay a “heavy price.” Also in 2017, China started a nationwide campaign to protect foreign firms’ international property rights. The Ministry of Commerce says China is a developing country and doesn’t have a perfect system to protect IP, acknowledging that there’s much work to do. Premier Li Keqiang, in a speech in March, promised to protect the rights of foreigners investing in its economy.
Terms of Service Violation
So here is a simple example. Apple spent billions on developing proprietary, i.e. they own the patents in the USA... China under the current trade laws doesn't have to
pay Apple for using the patents to manufacturer competitive products.
I know this may be hard to comprehend but unless Apple and other US companies get fair trade agreements, they lose and America loses.
The Chinese Finance Ministry said Tuesday that it will cut import duties on passenger vehicles from 25% to 15%, starting July 1.
Think about that! A TARIFF on a USA made car WAS 25% now it is a grand 15% ! Wow!!
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/24/news/car-auto-tariffs-us-germany-japan-toyota-volkswagen/index.ht
For example..Currently, vehicles shipped from Europe to the US face a low 2.5% tariff
Meanwhile, cars built in America face a 10% tariff when they're shipped to the European Union.
A Jeep Wrangler can cost $30,000 more in China than in the United States — and the reasons illustrate a growing point of tension between the two countries.
Manufactured in Toledo, Ohio, the Wrangler is a descendant of the jeeps that were used by American forces in World War II. Equipped with a 3.6-liter engine and a five-speed automatic transmission, the Rubicon edition of the Wrangler has a suggested retail price of $40,530 in the United States.
Does that seem FAIR to you?