As U.S. and China begin trade talks, Trump's tariff hammer looks less mighty

As US-China talks begin, Trump's tariffs look less mighty

WASHINGTON — The way President Donald Trump sees it, beating China in a trade war should be easy. After all, his logic goes, the Chinese sell Americans three times as much stuff as Americans sell them. Therefore, they have more to lose. Inflict enough pain, like the combined 145-percent taxes he slapped on Chinese imports

As U.S. and China begin trade talks, Trump's tariff hammer looks less mighty

The way President Donald Trump sees it, beating China in a trade war should be easy. After all, the Chinese sell Americans three times as much stuff as Americans sell them. Therefore, they have more to lose. Inflict enough pain…

The first trade talks between the US and China began in Geneva today. US President Donald Trump estimated before the negotiations that 80% import tariffs on Chinese goods would be appropriate, thus mentioning for the first time an alternative to the currently applicable 145% tariffs, reports the German news agency dpa.

As US, China begin trade talks in Geneva, Trump's tariff hammer looks less mighty than he claims

The way President Donald Trump sees it, beating China in a trade war should be easy. After all, his logic goes, the Chinese sell Americans three times as much stuff as Americans sell them. Therefore, they have more to lose. Inflict enough pain, like the combined 145% taxes he slapped on Chinese imports last month, and they’ll beg for mercy. Somebody forgot to tell China. So far, the Chinese have refused to fold under the pressure of Trump’s mass…