World News

By: Ava Stratton

“It hasn’t had a major impact yet, but it will” says former UCLA graduate Ben Dickerson referring to the trade war with China. He explains that the trade war has many aspects to it and is very complicated, causing it to have an impact on the economy. As these effects begin to appear, Dickerson explains that the trade war with China might have a negative impact on the economy, causing it to hurt both Chinese and American workers.

According to the New York Times, the trade war with China officially started in 2018 when President Trump began to put tariffs on Chinese goods. While by then, he had already put tariffs on thirty-four billion dollars of Chinese goods and threatened to impose taxes on sixteen more billion dollars on other goods. The New York Times states that “on Thursday, President Trump showed no signs of backing down from his fight,” which eventually led to President Xi Jinping to do the same. As Presidents Trump and Jinping continue to impose taxes on opposing country goods, the taxes are beginning to impact other happenings within the U.S. and China, such as (according to Ben Dickerson) the government subsidizing farmers.

According to CNBC,the trade war with China won’t only impact farmers, it will impact all citizens, as Chinese exporters aren’t reducing their prices. Dickerson explains that one of the reasons “you put taxes on foreign trade is to keep American products affordable. It is important to have trade with countries that will make goods cheaper.” Unfortunately, according to CNBC, this goal of a trade war is not playing out well, as “the U.S. economy is being hit harder than the Chinese economy.”

The Balance clearly explains what a trade war is, the attempt to reduce international trade using tariffs and imports. The Balance reassures the idea that these attempts have not impacted the U.S. economy in a positive way. It concludes how “In 2017, those states [Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin] produced half of all U.S. food. Nationally, farmers’ income fell by $11.8 billion between January and March 2019. That’s the most since 2016.” This shows how so far, the trade war with China has been unsuccessful for the U.S.

Dickerson explains how while a trade war generally supports a more nationalistic point of view, a trade war can potentially present progress throughout all political parties to help a country develop relationships. Dickerson explains that in his opinion, “with Trump, the war might just end up hurting Chinese and American workers.” Still, the trade war is not complete and Presidents Trump and Jinping continue to impose tariffs in hope of some sort of agreement. Meanwhile, the impacts on all American citizens might begin to appear in more obvious circumstances.