Chinese state-run media promises consequences for Apple, others if Trump starts trade war

Posted:
in iPhone
China has threatened that a trade war against the country will result in more harm to the U.S., with a state-run paper threatening that the government will take "countermeasures" against Apple's iPhone and the automotive industry if an economic conflict comes to pass.




"China will take a tit-for-tat approach then," the editorial by the Global Times declares. "A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus. US auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and US soybean and maize imports will be halted. China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the US."

The publication also points out that a U.S. president can only increase tariffs on all imported products from any country for 15 percent over 150 days. Higher tariffs must specify which goods in detail, such as President Obama's 35 percent tariff on Chinese tires in 2009.

"If Trump wrecks Sino-US trade, a number of US industries will be impaired," said the editorial. "Finally the new president will be condemned for his recklessness, ignorance and incompetence and bear all the consequences."

According to other Chinese media, President-Elect Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, with the two men promising to meet "at an early date."

Gearing up for a battle with China, and U.S. businesses

In January, Trump promised that he would force Apple to manufacture its hardware in the US instead of utilizing to overseas labor, and proposed a 35 percent tax on businesses making goods overseas, rather than by U.S factories.

Apple manufactures the Mac Pro in Austin, Texas. The remainder of Apple's products are manufactured in China, and potentially India in the days to come.

Points 5 through 7 of Trump's "7 point plan to rebuild the American economy by fighting for free trade" could be considered hostile to China's interests.

In the plan, Trump declares that in the first 100 days of office, the treasury secretary will be directed to label China a currency manipulator, and the trade representative to China will bring trade cases against China specifically addressing unfair subsidy behavior.

Point 7 of the plan promises to bring to bear "every lawful presidential power to remedy trade disputes if China does not stop its illegal activities."
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 87
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Trump would be a major idiot to have a trade war with China. It would be economic suicide for the world. It'd be like going to war with yourself. Not a playground to test out your hair-brained ideas hairdo.

    Let's just hope it's bullshit he spouted—as he does—merely to fool Americans into electing him. I get that Americans didn't want Hilary, but boy that's little choice there. One big fat big liar and another little skinny big fat liar. Like Pepsi or Pepsi with extra sugar thrown in.
    edited November 2016 spice-boyfrankiejony0baconstangpalomine
  • Reply 2 of 87
    ireland said:
    Trump would be a major idiot to have a trade war with China. It would be economic suicide for the world. It'd be like going to war with yourself. Not a playground to test out your hair-brained ideas hairdo.

    Let's just hope it's bullshit he spouted—as he does—merely to fool Americans into electing him. I get that Americans didn't want Hilary, but boy that's little choice there. One big fat big liar and another little skinny big fat liar. Like Pepsi or Pepsi with extra sugar thrown in.
    Something to Ponder, I believe this was a Chinese article written to Chinese citizens... I am sure they have their share of citizens who are freaking out because of Trump's talk, my belief is this is the governments way to calm there citizens and show that they have power, and that they can deal with the laowai (foreigners).  
    mike1perkedelcaligtr
  • Reply 3 of 87
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,286member
    "China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the US."

    If only.
    allmypeopleperkedelindyfx6502Alan68jbdragonbuzdots
  • Reply 4 of 87
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,251member
    lol. Everyone needs to just relax with this stuff.

    Can't remember who said it but "The media takes Trump literally but not seriously. His voters take him seriously but not literally."

    Just let the guy try and get better deals for the country. If he fails, he'll be out. If he wins even some minor concessions, it could be good for everyone.

    The media hysteria over Trump stuff is just insane.
    It's not media hysteria, it's who Trump is that bothers a majority of Americans. The media didn't make up the things Trump said or did. Trump's business plan is to build things then refuse to pay the people and companies he used. This is fact, not fiction. The fact that so many people voted for a person like this is what sane Americans and the rest of the world is worried about. I'm glad China has drawn the first line in the sand (actually the second after Mexico said they aren't paying for any stupid wall). Trump simply wants to Make America WHITE Again and all those voters in the bible belt and rust belt want that as well, which is why they voted for him. The US is not a "white" country, it's a blend of every ethnicity and nationality from around the world. That's what makes America Great, not a bunch of old white men pushing their ethnic cleansing agenda. 

    His voters DO take him seriously and literally and that's what scare so many people. Trump will have access to the that big button, do you really think he has the temperament to use that power wisely? His own history has shown he doesn't. Just so all you Trumpsters and non Americans understand things, the US is owned by foreign countries, which puts us in a bad predicament, one that could bankrupt this country at any moment. Wanting Trump to get better "deals" for this country means he will sell out the people who voted for him because those people only cost him money. The President isn't supposed to be the CEO of the country, they're supposed to be the guiding force for truth and justice for all Americans, not just the businesses. Republicans have never cared about the 99%, except during elections. 
    spice-boysingularityRayz2016davennetroxfrankiepropodcalidasanman69palomine
  • Reply 5 of 87
    nubusnubus Posts: 384member
    Hitting Trump by going after companies from Seattle and San Francisco? Is that really their plan? I need popcorn!
    monstrosity
  • Reply 6 of 87
    Some facts about the election. (Numbers are rounded)

    27% of Americans voted for Trump (not me)
    27% of Americans voted for Clinton (also not me)
    2% voted third party ( would have been me if I hadn't had issues on Election Day)
    44% of Americans didn't vote 

    Trump won with fewer votes than Romney and McCain (ugh) but Clinton finished around 7 million less than Obama.

    Trump is a con man who is not even a Republican, much less a conservative. Protectionism is a liberal policy with shades of nationalism, while free trade is a conservative policy. 

    The choices this time around were horrible, and I can tell you that not very many of his voters take him literally or seriously, but just couldn't stomach another Clinton in the WH. He didn't win because voter's liked him, he won because voters couldn't stand her. 
    singularityberndogfrankiedunestockpropodzroger73jbdragonjony0baconstangpunkndrublic
  • Reply 7 of 87
    PolicyManPolicyMan Posts: 1unconfirmed, member
    Hey Andrew, you left out the fact that Clinton had more votes than Trump, thus winning the popular vote.
    battiato1981davenfrankiepropodzroger73roundaboutnowcalijony0baconstangpalomine
  • Reply 8 of 87
    GatoZillaGatoZilla Posts: 2unconfirmed, member
    This what U.S. companies get for chasing cheap labor and raping U.S. workers.
    nolamacguyAlan68frankie
  • Reply 9 of 87
    Not sure how Apple could manufacture products in the U.S. in the near term with virtually it's entire supply chain in Asia...  That would require long term planning.
    davenbaconstangpalomine
  • Reply 10 of 87
    Trump and his soon to be selected advisors are not dumb.  They will press to focus our trade policy to make it more feasible for US companies to produce products in America (not easily done mind you) and attract foreign companies to produce more of their goods here in the US.  Just because Trump wants to toughen policy does not mean he will throw everything away like some of you suggest.  I am still trying to find a Clinton policy that makes sense for the US.  What would I know I am one of those citizens that creates jobs for others.
    patchythepirateberndoggatorguydunestock
  • Reply 11 of 87
    mike1 said:
    "China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the US."

    If only.
    Huh?

    This hurts Chinese more than it hurts anyone else, limiting their students is a fool's errand.  Of course so is Communism & Socialism.  *rolls eyes*
    berndog
  • Reply 12 of 87
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member
    I expect the usual fact deniers will be posting soon with the usual fervor and insult slinging.
  • Reply 13 of 87
    Those who voted Trump say they are sick of politicians who say they will do things to get elected, then fail to follow through. Now, they tell us not to wet the bed because Trump didn't mean the things he said literally. So much for consistency. 
    singularitydavenfrankiepropodroundaboutnowcalidasanman69Kenster999
  • Reply 14 of 87
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    This is ironic.  Apple suffers from copycats of China, South Korea, Taiwan.  If Trump imposes 45% tariffs on Apple iPhone, it only hurts Apple. 
    calibaconstangwatto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 87
    512ke512ke Posts: 782member
    Here is my personal observation about Trump attacking China's currency policies/imposing tariffs on their imports...

    He promised he would do it. 

    If he doesn't do it, he's a liar. 

    But. 

    He also promised to grow the US economy. 

    And. If he keeps his promise on China trade, then the US economy will suffer greatly. 

    Therefore.  He cannot keep both of these promises. These two cornerstones of his campaign are simply incompatible. 

    You cannot be anti China trade and pro US growth at the same time. 

    Ay, there's the rub. 
    edited November 2016 battiato1981davenpropod
  • Reply 16 of 87
    65026502 Posts: 380member
    I'd gladly pay a few hundred dollars more to buy an American made iPhone. We are too dependent on China for things we use daily. And fewer Chinese student at our universities? That's a reward, not a threat.
    dunestock
  • Reply 17 of 87
    sog35 said:
    This is another failure by Cook.

    Instead of hedging his bets he went 100% with Clinton. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid move by Cook. He should have played both sides. Instead he went all in with Clinton and has egg on his face now.

    This is what I absolutely DETEST about Cook. He allows his PERSONAL VALUES and POLITICAL VALUES to pollute the Apple brand. This election should have not had any effect on Apple. Yet the stock lost $60 billion in value the last week because of Cook spreading his political agenda. 

    The CEO of a multi-national corporation should be playing both sides. Another absolute failure by the fool Cook. He thinks he's running a charity and social non-profit.
    Bezos went in worse.  Tim never made personal attacks against Trump, but Bezos said he'd like to shoot him into outer space, used his Washington ComPost as a main outlet for never ending personal attacks, etc.  Tim made it obvious who he backed as he contributed personally (a cool mil) to the Hill campaign and so on.  I personally don't feel CEOs should connect themselves so closely to candidates.  It can back fire too easily, which is the case here and elsewhere.
    caliSpamSandwich
  • Reply 18 of 87
    sog35 said:
    This is another failure by Cook.

    Instead of hedging his bets he went 100% with Clinton. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid move by Cook. He should have played both sides. Instead he went all in with Clinton and has egg on his face now.

    This is what I absolutely DETEST about Cook. He allows his PERSONAL VALUES and POLITICAL VALUES to pollute the Apple brand. This election should have not had any effect on Apple. Yet the stock lost $60 billion in value the last week because of Cook spreading his political agenda. 

    The CEO of a multi-national corporation should be playing both sides. Another absolute failure by the fool Cook. He thinks he's running a charity and social non-profit.
    I wonder if you'd feel the same way if he went all-in on Trump? The vehemence with which you object to policies which emphasize inclusion and fairness leads me to believe that this is your real objection. I find it refreshing to see a CEO who is not a cynic. Being consistently conservative hasn't hurt the Koch Brothers brand. Are they "stupid, stupid, stupid" too?
    singularitypropodRayz2016roundaboutnowpalomine
  • Reply 19 of 87
    Alan68Alan68 Posts: 2unconfirmed, member
    China, we don't give rats you-know-what about your threats. Impose high tariffs on all imports that can't be manufactured in this country. And PolicyMan you're wrong - check the facts. Trump had more popular votes as well.
  • Reply 20 of 87
    ireland said:
    Trump would be a major idiot to have a trade war with China. It would be economic suicide for the world. It'd be like going to war with yourself. Not a playground to test out your hair-brained ideas hairdo.

    Let's just hope it's bullshit he spouted—as he does—merely to fool Americans into electing him. I get that Americans didn't want Hilary, but boy that's little choice there. One big fat big liar and another little skinny big fat liar. Like Pepsi or Pepsi with extra sugar thrown in.
    The thing is... the american people DID want Hilary... she won the popular vote over trump... the electoral system is just broken if you ask me...

    I didn't vote for another entity to place their vote... I voted for the president... oh well...
    edited November 2016 calibaconstangpalomine
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