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
Opinion
Opinion
Macroscope
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
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