U.S. and China locked in trade war
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – U.S. foreign policy, seemingly, centers around the growing threat from China as President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping remain locked in a trade war.
'China doesn't play by the rules,' said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.). 'We've got to stand up to them, and nobody does that better and leads the charge better than President Trump.'
President Trump imposed 145% tariffs. China retaliated with a 125% tax on U.S.-made goods.
'Ideally, we'd get to a position where there are no tariffs at all and there are no non-tariff barriers to trade,' Cornyn said.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.) said he sees tariffs as a short-term tool, not a long-term policy.
'I think a long-term tariff would have a negative impact,' McCaul said.
He noted the pork producers and soybean farmers in his district.
The trade war also threw a wrench into the negotiations for a TikTok sale. Congress passed a law to force the Chinese parent company that owns TikTok to divest from the app, or get off the app stores in the U.S.
'I just don't think China's going to be a willing seller,' McCaul said.
Mccaul also talked about the impact of the loss of USAID on U.S. foreign policy toward China.
'If we're going to cut all of that soft power, which is only 1% of our federal budget, then, as General Mattis said, and I think he's correct, we're going to have to buy more bullets,' McCaul said. 'Our prestige, our power overseas, our diplomatic skills, I always say, when diplomats fail, you have war.'
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