Michael Schuman, Columnist

Who Wins a Trade War? China

Starting one will encourage the regime's own nationalist agenda.

November 11, 2016 at 2:05 AM UTC

Michael Schuman is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub and the author of "Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World" and "The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia's Quest for Wealth."

The government wants consumers to buy Chinese anyway.
Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images

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Donald Trump’s big win might seem a big loss for China. After spending much of his campaign calling China a cheater that steals American jobs, Trump’s election almost certainly means Washington will take a much harder line over trade, the Chinese currency and other contentious economic issues.

Nevertheless, China’s policymakers will likely welcome President Trump. For the nationalist upsurge he’s inspired will ultimately serve China’s, not America’s, economic interests.