Trump Lost the Trade War to China

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Nicholas Kristof: After the United States-China summit planned for Thursday, President Trump may crow about his deal-making skill. Aides may suggest that he deserves a Nobel Prize for negotiation " but I invite you to roll your eyes.

Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 10:33 AM | 49 COMMENTS | permalink

Xi may explicitly or implicitly use the threat of limiting rare earth exports to encourage Trump to dial down support for Taiwan or reduce patrols in the South China Sea. If Trump goes along with that, it would be an enormous setback for America in Asia and a big gain for Chinese influence. Our allies would shudder at the thought of diminished American power in the Pacific, and there would be a growing risk of Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait.

So don't rush to applaud whatever triumphant announcements you may hear from Trump and his aides about a landmark deal with China. We Americans may have lost not just a trade war but a chunk of our global credibility and influence for years to come, in ways that would be seen globally as a harbinger of American decline.

Comments

Nicholas Kristof writes:

Xi sees our weakness. He has established that he has the upper hand in the bilateral relationship and that Trump is the weak one who will buckle under pressure, including on security matters. And because Trump has betrayed and antagonized allies, they are less likely to work with us in resisting Beijing.

Xi may suspend his rare earths restrictions for a year, but I doubt he'll let us build stockpiles. I suspect it will be more difficult for American companies to acquire rare earths to make fighter aircraft and submarines " and in fairness, Xi in some respects is simply doing to the United States what we have done to China.

#1 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-10-30 05:41 AM

Bottom line, which may help explain how Trump managed to go big belly-up in the casino business:

"It soon became obvious that President Xi Jinping of China had us over a barrel, for the United States economy depends on Chinese rare earths far more than China depends on American soybeans."

D'oh!

#2 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-10-30 05:44 AM

And the Chinese people and government have never forgotten the centuries of humiliation at the hands of the West (AKA Yang Guzi). m.media-amazon.com

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-10-30 05:57 AM

Opium War

#4 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-10-30 06:02 AM

I have a first edition of Commissioner Lin and the Opium War and my aunt has a first printing of this (from China):

m.media-amazon.com

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-10-30 06:11 AM

Trump Lost the Trade War to China

Does Pedo 47 get to keep his Chinese trademarks?

#6 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-10-30 10:44 AM

It soon became obvious that President Xi Jinping of China had us over a barrel, for the United States economy depends on Chinese rare earths far more than China depends on American soybeans."

D'oh!

#2 | POSTED BY DOC_SARVIS

This is what happens when our leaders do not understand diplomacy, cannot read or learn or listen to experts or learn from history or even know how to make plans and strategic decisions.

You get a SNAFU.

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-30 12:04 PM

#7 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY

This is laughable, it was always going to come to this stage, and move beyond it. China will leave America and the West in the dust.

Acting like a Democrat or Republican could stop it, is hilarious. You can already see Americans upset by the high cost of goods. Idiots will blame Trump, but really the Dollar is being inflated because the Debt is so high. Just look at the drop against the dollar, it aint pretty.

But go ahead fight amongst yourselves, take glory in defeating your domestic enemy. You lose in the end regardless at this point, there's no stopping the dragon.
I came here knowing this, but am surprised by how quickly the combo of Bush,Obama,Trump, and Biden hurried the downfall.

I am planning my return to the mother land. Can you believe you'll OWE me SocialSecurity money, while I live in China, but it will be worthless LOL?

TikTokTikTok ... your time is almost up America.

#8 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 12:18 PM

- I am planning my return to the mother land.

Don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.

And don't be surprised when you SS is cut off.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2025-10-30 12:29 PM

I am planning my return to the mother land.

So. A commie spy? Nailed it!

"TikTokTikTok ... your time is almost up America."

Yeah. I knew all along that shit was spyware.

I knew all along you were here just to help sow chaos and division.

America is bigger than any one man. You'll see.

America is an idea.

Good luck killing an idea.

#10 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-30 12:37 PM

The problem is that ideas are mutable.

After 30 years or more of conservatives waging war on public education fewer and fewer young people are able to comprehend the loftier ideals of the past.

#11 | Posted by qcp at 2025-10-30 01:18 PM

Another view ...

Trump-Xi 'amazing' summit brings tactical truce, not major reset
www.reuters.com

... U.S. President Donald Trump hailed a meeting with China's Xi Jinping as "amazing" and "12" on a 10-point scale, but the agreement the two leaders reached appears to be no more than a fragile truce in a trade war with root causes still unresolved.

The framework announced on Thursday -- that includes China resuming soybean purchases, suspending its rare earths export curbs for a year, and the U.S. lowering tariffs on China by 10% -- broadly rewinds ties to the status that existed before Trump's "Liberation Day" offensive triggered tit-for-tat escalation. ...

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-30 01:18 PM

it wouldn't have matter what Trump negotiated, the Left would have been against it

#13 | Posted by Maverick at 2025-10-30 01:25 PM

Trump lost the trade war to China when he base his entire strategy on Peter Navarro's fiction novel, Death by China, with expert analysis from "Ron Vara".

Donald Trump is a fucking retard and the perfect representation of the Republican Party.

#14 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-30 01:27 PM

it wouldn't have matter what Trump negotiated, the Left would have been against it

#13 | Posted by Maverick

STFU idiot.

Trump is killing everything he touches (as is his norm) and all morons like you can blather on about is duhhhhhhh ThE LefTZ!!

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-30 01:31 PM

it wouldn't have matter what Hitlrt negotiated, the Left would have been against it

#13 | Posted by Maverick

FTFY

#16 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-30 01:32 PM

it wouldn't have matter what Hitler negotiated, the Left would have been against it

#13 | Posted by Maverick

FTFY

And for me.

#17 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-30 01:32 PM

it wouldn't have matter what Trump negotiated, the Left would have been against it
#13 | Posted by Maverick

Spoken like a true cultist! You sound so defeated! TACO TACO TACO, cultist!!! HAHAHAHA!

#18 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2025-10-30 01:35 PM

@#12 ... The framework announced on Thursday ... that includes China resuming soybean purchases, suspending its rare earths export curbs for a year, and the U.S. lowering tariffs on China by 10% -- broadly rewinds ties to the status that existed before Trump's "Liberation Day" offensive triggered tit-for-tat escalation. ...

That's how it looks at this point, i.e., Pres Trump retreated to the way things were before he went crazy with tariffs.

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-30 01:37 PM

#8 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 12:18 PM

If this were my site, this comment would have you removed. I think it solidly proves that your intent here has been to sew division and discontent as a troll. You've always been attempting to undermine the US. If you're really even Chinese, I think you should be returned there as ashes in a cardboard box.

#20 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-10-30 01:41 PM

-You've always been attempting to undermine the US.

Oh, STFU you moron. He's not trying to undermine the US.

He's trying piss you off.

#21 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 01:45 PM

That's how it looks at this point, i.e., Pres Trump retreated to the way things were before he went crazy with tariffs.

#19 | Posted by LampLighter

As much BS as Trump conveys, I won't believe it until the farmers have the money from the contracts in their accounts....

#22 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-10-30 01:46 PM

"your intent here has been to sew division and discontent as a troll."

If this were your site, you'd be appreciative of it.

Unless he went off the rails with regards to Global warming and COVID.

Anything else? You'd be begging him to post more.

#23 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 01:47 PM

#21

No, you're the one who's always trying to piss people off ---hole.

#24 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-10-30 01:47 PM

So Oneiron isn't trying to piss you off intentionally? But he manages to do it anyway?

Yes....dumfuq.....he's trying to piss people off.

I'm trying to get your anger down just enough to realize it.

#25 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 01:49 PM

#20:

#26 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-10-30 01:50 PM

#25

You're an even worse troll than he is. Don't try pretending that your suddenly somehow a good person. You spend far too much time commenting here, doing nothing but stirring ----. Go play a round of golf at your gated country club, ----head.

#27 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-10-30 02:00 PM

-Go play a round of golf at your gated country club, ----head.

Oh, I'll do both.

But the round is so much more enjoyable when I'm drinking a tall cold glass of your tears.

#28 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 02:25 PM

So Oneiron isn't trying to piss you off intentionally? But he manages to do it anyway?
Yes....dumfuq.....he's trying to piss people off.

I don't care how they feel, I am just pointing out their BS is whats causing the collapse of America, Trump or no Trump.

#29 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 02:27 PM

We lost credibility a long time ago. We've been resting on laurels because we won a war eighty years ago. Since then, we've done nothing but degrade and it's quickening with the current buffoon-in-charge.

#30 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-10-30 02:28 PM

I am planning my return to the mother land.

Soggy lice no taste nice!

#31 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-10-30 02:30 PM

You spend far too much time commenting here, doing nothing but stirring ----.

This is the tolerant "whatswrong". Its called "stirring" or worse, when you have a difference of opinion.

As opposed to actually discussing or refuting the claims.

#32 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 02:33 PM

Soggy lice no taste nice!
#31 | POSTED BY LEE_THE_AGENT

I feel the Indian rice (basamati) when cooked properly is excellent.

American rice is shit.

#33 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 02:33 PM

I'm just an open borders, liberal Chinese immigrant!
#29 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Whatever you say, dumbfkkk.

#34 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-30 02:35 PM

and it's quickening with the current buffoon-in-charge.
#30 | POSTED BY LEE_THE_AGENT

This is just an internal/domestic viewpoint, attacking Iraq was the beginning of the end, I just didn't realize it when I came over.

In the rest of the worlds eyes, making Iraq a democracy at the pointy end of a gun was hypocrisy. Much like Newsom redrawing the maps to "save democracy".

The America is so full of contradictions.

#35 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 02:36 PM

So Newsom letting voters redraw maps to counter the GOPs just doing it in Texas (to steal the midterms) ... is the same thing as our invasion of Iraq?

Youve outdone yourself in stupidity.

#36 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-30 02:38 PM

Texas, Missouri and North Carolina redrawn congressional districts without voter approval to add more Republicans to the federal government.

Crickets from republicans.

California puts redistricting up for a vote.

Republicans lose their fkkking minds.

Hypocrisy is the only word you can use.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-30 02:42 PM

The America is so full of contradictions.
#35 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Says the guy famous for being an "open borders, liberal", who condemned the Biden administration for not controlling the southern border.

Seek therapy, you stupid troll.

#38 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-30 02:44 PM

"You spend far too much time commenting here, doing nothing but stirring ---"

maybe but that's not what has you so upset.

It's not the stirring....it's that I'M stirring.

Corky and Boazboy refers to Oneiron as a chinese commie agitator. They go from thread to thread "commenting and doing nothing but stirring___"

But that doesn't bother you in the least.

You're a lying hypocritical POS, Whatsleft.

#39 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 02:44 PM

"California puts redistricting up for a vote."

How do you think it's going to go?

#40 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-30 02:46 PM

We'll see.

Enough money from out of state has been spent campaigning against redistricting that it's gonna be a toss up.

There's some signs that it has a good chance of passing, like republican hot beds such as Huntington Beach coming out in favor of prop 50.

But the further you drive inland from the coast the more "No on 50" posters you see.

I recently received an advertisement in the mail from the Republican Party telling me to vote no on 50, because the neighbors were watching.

Which I found extremely funny.

But I'm sure some people will see that and fear their neighbors will kill them if they don't vote No.

#41 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-30 02:53 PM

But the round is so much more enjoyable when I'm drinking a tall cold glass of your tears.

POSTED BY EBERLY

As a Christian do.

#42 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-30 03:01 PM

POSTED BY EBERLY
As a Christian do.

#42 | Posted by donnerboy

Does .... does....

Enough money from out of state has been spent campaigning against redistricting that it's gonna be a toss up.

Nah, Republicans aren't turning in their ballots; they don't see the threat, or at least the propaganda they are receiving isn't as dire as the propaganda the Democrats are seeing.

#43 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-30 03:09 PM

"I recently received an advertisement in the mail from the Republican Party telling me to vote no on 50, because the neighbors were watching."

The proposition is very clear.

Californians know what to do.

I believe they will make the right decision.

If not. That will tell me what I need to know, also.

"Corky and Boazboy refers to Oneiron as a chinese commie agitator."

Commie agitator has given the game away. He was never interested in becoming an American. He has admitted he is a commie spy. He is returning soon to China(the Motherland). He has learned what he needs to know about us. I tried to warn you.

TikTokTikTok ... your time is almost up America."
-ONEIRONUT

#44 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-30 03:11 PM

Nah, Republicans aren't turning in their ballots;

And you think that will help them?

Good. Republicans are being stupid!

As a Republican do.

#45 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-30 03:13 PM

- Corky and Boazboy

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Boawinsky".

#46 | Posted by Corky at 2025-10-30 03:19 PM

-Enough money from out of state has been spent campaigning against redistricting that it's gonna be a toss up.

It'll drive turnout upward and that should be a help to the left.