What the U.S.-China Trade War Is Really About
The tariffs get all the attention, but the dispute is mainly over national security and geopolitical power.
This is what the trade war is about.
Photographer: Bloomberg/BloombergDuring my recent travels in Taiwan and China, I was asked repeatedly: What does America really want out of the trade war with China? In the interests of mutual understanding, here is my brief guide to America’s conflicting and complicated motives. Spoiler alert: The tariffs may get more attention, but the critical issues are Huawei and Taiwan.
Start with President Donald Trump, who himself has mixed motives. He has favored tariffs and protectionism since the 1980s, when he focused on Japan. For better or worse, protectionism seems to be one of Trump’s most sincere views. Yet Trump also fancies himself a deal-maker, and he would like to strike a deal with China to cement his legacy and boost his re-election chances in 2020.