I see that Reuters is suggesting my speculation is correct:
China appeared to be angling to inflict political costs on Trump by striking at signature U.S. exports, including soybeans, frozen beef, cotton and other agricultural commodities produced in states from Iowa to Texas that voted for him in the 2016 presidential election.
The sad thing is that China has drawn a number of complaints over the with regard to its trade practices. Trump, however, has no concept effective action, only of newsworthy action. War is a big-time word, guaranteed to get the blood moving, so he uses that, rather than working with allies to quietly but effectively move China into a more friendly posture vis a vis trade.
Instead, he’s waving a big flag and will probably accomplish nothing – but he’ll trumpet it to high heaven, because that’s all he knows how to do.
Who knows, maybe he’ll get the Chinese to back down and change some practices. I’m not putting any money on it, though, especially since the Chinese kicked Trump’s butt way back at the beginning of this debacle of an Administration.
