Who Wins a Trade War? China

Nov 10, 2016 | Bloomberg | https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-11-11/china-might-welcome-trade-war-with-u-s

By Michael Schuman

Donald Trump’s big win might seem a big loss for China. After spending much of his campaign calling China a cheater that steals American jobs, Trump’s election almost certainly means Washington will take a much harder line over trade, the Chinese currency and other contentious economic issues.
Nevertheless, China’s policymakers will likely welcome President Trump. For the nationalist upsurge he’s inspired will ultimately serve China’s, not America’s, economic interests.
Of course, Trump will cause some disruption in the short term. China’s economic relationship with the U.S. is by far its most important: The Middle Kingdom needs American consumers to buy its exports and American investment and technology to upgrade its industry. The tools Trump has threatened to employ against China -- hiking tariffs, renegotiating trade arrangements, labeling the country a “currency manipulator” -- could deal a blow to China’s growth just as the country is struggling with mounting debt, excess capacity and stagnant exports. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-11-11/china-might-welcome-trade-war-with-u-s