U.S. companies could be caught in the crosshairs if China retaliates to fight Trump
With President-elect Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policy team taking a hawkish stance toward China, U.S. companies are increasingly concerned a hard-line approach could stunt their prospects in the world’s second-largest economy — and turn them into targets of Chinese retaliation.
With President-elect Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policy team taking a hawkish stance toward China, U.S. companies are increasingly concerned a hard-line approach could stunt their prospects in the world’s second-largest economy — and turn them into targets of Chinese retaliation.
Trump has threatened to hit China with at least 60% tariffs and vowed to end reliance on the country. That alone would be disruptive. It would force companies to scramble to find other sources of supply, American consumers to pay higher prices at the store, and, according to many experts, lead to job losses.
On top of that, the Chinese government could respond with an expanded tool kit to target American businesses.
“The Trump administration’s actions may be seen or may be interpreted as economic war,” Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told reporters in Beijing on Thursday. “If they are interpreted in that way, China might have a much more vigorous response, not limited to tariffs.”
Those actions could range from economic changes to matters of diplomacy and security, Kennedy said, adding China may “push back as hard as they can.”
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