Trump was so angry after China's trade retaliation that he wanted to double tariffs

[TomCADem]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: CNBC

President Donald Trump wanted to double tariff rates on Chinese goods last month after Beijing’s latest retaliation in a boiling trade war before settling on a smaller increase, three sources told CNBC.

The president was outraged after he learned Aug. 23 that China had formalized plans to slap duties on $75 billion in U.S. products in response to new tariffs from Washington on Sept. 1. His initial reaction, communicated to aides on a White House trade call held that day, was to suggest doubling existing tariffs, according to three people briefed on the matter.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer then enlisted multiple CEOs to call the president and warn him about the impact such a move would have on the stock market and the economy.

He settled on a 5% hike in tariff rates on about $550 billion in Chinese products, which he announced in an Aug. 23 tweet after the market close.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/03/trump-wanted-to-double-china-trade-tariffs-after-latest-retaliation.html

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Poor Trump. He should ask Bernie about how to impose tariffs on China without them retaliating whatsoever. If you do so "rationally," as Bernie carefully explains below, China will have no choice, but to surrender.

Link to tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Glad to know doubling tariffs is the next round

Trump never backs off because he thinks he's always right.

[lordsummerisle]

2. He's also been quoted a number of times saying

"I always win."

[machoneman]

4. Here's my take. Imagine the words Mnuchin had to use to get those CEO's to call Trumpy?

He literally had to say the president (smalll p) wants to double tariffs in retaliation....meaning my boss is a frikken' idiot and I need you to save our bacon! Talk about lowering himself, debasing himself and making it sound like a cry for help! Poor Stevie!

[RockRaven]

3. Trump is literally the asshole who is so mad he just rear-ended a parked car that he backs up

and floors it to crash into the parked car a second time...

China's responses to Trump's behaviors have been 90-100% predictable (and actually predicted by, you know, experts -- real experts, not pundits or so-called "experts" featured on FOXNews). And Trump is fucking incredulous (and irate about it), every goddamned time.

[tblue37]

5. How dare they fight back when I attack them! nt

[SCVDem]

6. Ya wanna play trumpie?

If I were China I would block all American vessels from port and order their ships to turn around.

Let's play NO trade.

And by the way, all that American debt we are holding?

Pay up NOW!

[Aussie105]

7. Trump's plan

was to impose tariffs and have the Chinese intimidated into freezing in confusion by his 'smarts'.

Unfortunately, Trump is a street fighter who expects his opponent to go down at the first punch, and stay down.
Except this opponent got up and started throwing counter punches.

Turns out the 'Art of the Deal' is really the 'Art of the Bluff' and Trump lacks the foresight and insight to have predicted what China would do after that first punch.

Way to go Don! Are we sick of winning yet? The stock markets around the world certainly are.

[genxlib]

8. How you know you are in trouble...

When Mnuchin and lighthiser are your only hope as the adults in the room.

[Omaha Steve]

9. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING

Given the commentary, this belongs in primaries.

Per the decisions and instructions of the DU Admins, all OP's regarding Democratic candidates for the Party's nomination for President are to be posted in the Democratic Primaries Forum. Please post your OP there. Thanks