China's weak economy explained

China is bracing for an unpredictable four years when Donald Trump returns to the White House, with the potential for renewed tensions over trade and Taiwan, but also opportunities for Beijing to play a greater role on the global stage.

Even as Chinese leader Xi Jinping congratulated the president-elect on Thursday, analysts were warning of a return to the transactionalism and confrontation that defined Trump’s first term and launched a new era of hawkishness in Washington.

“A lot of people here, including the government, I think, are preparing for certain upheaval or storms, but nobody knows,” said Tang Shiping, an international relations professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, who released a computer model on Sunday that correctly predicted Trump’s win. “I don’t think anybody really understands or has a rough idea what Trump, in his second term, will be able to do.”

[kawiicafe]

This is just a reminder that we, the people who live in the US, pay the tariffs. This means adding a tax of up to 60 percent onto goods WE want to buy. Other countries will not be paying them.

[sdc-grrb]

Prices will soar in US. Companies who aren't in tariff categories will raise prices and blame tariffs. Like fuel surcharges... the trash collection company still adds a surcharge, while gas and diesel costs are quite low. Kroger admits keeping prices of eggs and milk high, long after shortages ended because "consumers got used to paying more."

[abrahammejia]

"Almost a decade ago" hits really hard

[orange_zircons.j]

“Our smartest minds have decided that the best method to increase youth employment is by not reporting our unemployment rates”

[Rabies]

When trump realizes that a tariff is just another word for tax

[waroftheworlds]

Does anyone remember the end of WW1? You can't royally screw over a major economy and not get screwed over yourself.

[YouOtin]

When tariffs happen goods become more expensive, tariff is tax

[EmeraldPencil]

People who want these tariffs need to pick up any item in their house. Chances are it’s gonna say “Made in China”. That cheap item you’re now gonna have to pay more for. China won’t absorb the tariff, they’ll throw it on the price tag. Ever heard of the Great Depression? Tariffs were a major part of that.

[CTGReviews]

Trump's tariffs would fit well in the 19th century lol

[voicelessscooby]

By the way, China found ways around the 2015 tariffs, they essentially just made the products to like 90% completion, shipped them to Chinese owned factories in other countries like Malaysia and Vietnam, and then had a "Made in Not China" stamp put on the products so they wouldn't have to deal with the tariffs. This mostly happened with more expensive products like phones

[kevinchen]

I think we should add an amendment requiring all politicians making economic decisions to have passed Economics… because our current government either has or has decided to ignore it. Or lied

[connordovah]

As a non-US person, "hawk" is the weirdest thing you guys call your politicians.

[basbekjenl]

Chinese records are about as reliable as an anonymous source.

[michaelAHsartori]

It was just a BRASS escalator. Hes not THAT rich

[fen]

We lost the last trade war. We will lose this one too

[unfathomablyunfathomable]

During the Great Depression, the US tried tariffs on other nations. The result was a much, much worse economic situation in the US

[rubenantao]

I like how companies are treating people so poorly that the government has to pay you to live there. Finally, reverse taxes

[malta]

A 10% tariff would be enough to theoretically prevent all shipment of goods across the pond. Learned about itin microeconomics

[xiqueira]

so did we suddenly have all washing and appliance companies start opening factories here? didn’t think so

[stargazer-elite]

Will people stop calling them tariffs they are import taxes nothing else