Chinese traffic police walk past a US embassy car parked outside a hotel in Shanghai on July 30, when negotiators from both sides were holding trade talks. Just days later, US President Donald Trump announced new 10 per cent tariffs on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods, starting in September. Photo: AP
Chinese traffic police walk past a US embassy car parked outside a hotel in Shanghai on July 30, when negotiators from both sides were holding trade talks. Just days later, US President Donald Trump announced new 10 per cent tariffs on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods, starting in September. Photo: AP
Neal Kimberley
Opinion

Opinion

Macroscope by Neal Kimberley

What is driving Donald Trump’s relentless trade war with China? Look to the 2020 US presidential election

  • As Trump eyes re-election in 2020, China and Chinese goods are fair game, as this resonates with his base
  • That he will be hurting US consumers is a risk Trump seems willing to take, but his actions may be pushing China too far

Neal Kimberley
Neal Kimberley

Updated: 4:15am, 7 Aug, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP
Chinese traffic police walk past a US embassy car parked outside a hotel in Shanghai on July 30, when negotiators from both sides were holding trade talks. Just days later, US President Donald Trump announced new 10 per cent tariffs on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods, starting in September. Photo: AP
Chinese traffic police walk past a US embassy car parked outside a hotel in Shanghai on July 30, when negotiators from both sides were holding trade talks. Just days later, US President Donald Trump announced new 10 per cent tariffs on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods, starting in September. Photo: AP
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