Trump Rough Decoupling (Week 12 News Review)
While the United States Republican media is enthusiastic about President Trump’s Executive Orders beginning on April 2, 2025 covering global tariffs enforced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the global media is not nearly as enthusiastic. Ostensibly this is being done to level the playing field on years of protectionist tariffs by other nations making it hard to sell things like U.S. brand automobiles, appliances, computer hardware, and industrial goods; those nations are balking at the proposed tariffs.
In fact, President Trump and his administration are adhering to much of Project 2025 and the plan to “Combat Communist China’s Economic Aggression and Quest for World Domination” as described in Chapter 26 of the Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise policy guidebook of the Heritage Foundation. Basically Table 5 of this Chapter lays bare the case that Communist China has a plan to conquer the world by crushing the sovereign nations through toxic economic trade policy to weaken nations by hook or by crook.
“In light of Communist China’s broader geopolitical and military agenda, the American President who takes office in January 2025 must view the U.S.–China trade relationship and associated policy reforms within the context of the broader existential threat posed by Communist China. The question is whether that next President should seek to decouple economically and financially from Communist China as America’s first best response to China’s unrelenting aggression or continue efforts to negotiate with an authoritarian country and brutal dictatorship with a well-established reputation for failing to abide by any agreements it enters.” —Chapter 26 Trade, Mandate for Leadership
It is a rhetorical question, according to Project 2025, whether or not to engage with China, because President Xi will “never bargain in good faith” whether regarding intellectual property theft or militarizing the South China Sea, based on his history of talks with President Obama in 2015. But on the other hand, since China’s ultimate goal is to allow a full decoupling from the United States, such plans for decoupling must be thwarted. These policy options were planned for enactment by a potential Trump second term, and these are the basis for the seemingly brilliant Mach-speed Executive Orders flowing out of the Oval Office daily to transform the United States into the Invisible Hand guiding China.
“Without a strong economic interest in continued U.S. investment and exports, for example, China’s behavior would likely become increasingly less predictable and more dangerous. Anyone who thinks Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping and the government in Beijing are bad actors now—which they are—should consider what would happen if the Chinese convinced liberal countries like the United States to decouple from them, leaving them free to pursue whatever policies they wish without the significant counterweight that America can provide.”—Chapter 26 Trade, Mandate for Leadership
What the “Case for Fair Trade” advocates, rather than a full decoupling, is a full policy for strict guidance. Those policies will be implemented through trade and technology-enforcing tariffs; tax-incentives created for companies to relocate within United States; de-minimis exemption ended; and a host of CCP participation prevention in anything from US contracts, hi-tech investment to U.S. stockmarkets. It includes ending U.S. investment in China portfolios, cracking down on e-sellers, and closing any Confucius Institutes. These are just a few examples from the playbook.
“If the new U.S. President wishes to defend this country against the serious existential threat posed by Communist China, that President will adopt all of these proposals through the requisite presidential executive orders or memoranda.” —Chapter 26 Trade, Mandate for Leadership
The evidence that the Trump Administration is operating under Mandate for Leadership is the number of staff affiliated with Project 2025 sponsors now hired as advisors and in other positions. It is creating what commentators are calling a “unitary executive” branch under the complete control of the President. People who worked on Project 2025 or who are from the first Trump Administration now play key roles within the government or as media operatives, such as Steve Bannon with his Bannon’s War Room podcast.
For instance, Project 2025, “Chapter 26 Trade,” author Peter Navarro is now serving as the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, but previously also served as the Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. No wonder that the Trump economic war plan against China is rolling out so smoothly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, always as poised as a tigress, served as an instructor for Project 2025‘s “Conservative Governance 101” training program. However she has declared that “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025.” To be sure, former administrator, Dr. Ben Carson, a token as former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shares his vision in Chapter 15 of Project 2025.
What we are guaranteed is that a conservative thinktank, whose personnel pass the litmus “loyalty test” to the President, plays an outsized interventionist role to rid the nation of cultural marxism and illegal migrants, and advances pet projects to rid or pare down the social safety net. The team of conservatives, such as Col. Chris Miller, who wrote Chapter 4 “Department of Defense” is now the Acting Secretary of Defense. His visible roadmap, restructuring the Department of Defense, focuses on U.S. adversaries, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This is where the savings from DOGE and the payment received from tariffs will go: funding new wars and propaganda organs against China.
The tone of Project 2025 makes clear that China is no longer a country, rather it is merely referred to throughout the text, numerous times, as “Communist China.” It is not the “People’s Republic of China” probably because in the broadest interpretation of the goals of the political class, there can be no such thing. And yet no media pundit right or left will talk about Project 2025, the guide manual for the Trump Administration, and if asked, they are sure to play evasive. Right wing pundits are steering away from the details therein because they hope to keep the gullible worshipping the “genius” of President Trump, while the Deep State executes the daily reality drama.
In the media sphere, for instance, each pundit plays their role guiding their followers by focusing on their favorite “safe talking points”: immigration, DEI-transgender-BLM indoctrination, fraud, conspiracy, and ongoing wars. Generally so long as the media is spun around the first three topics, the Deep State will subtly lead Americans toward the brink of war with China. Of course it requires steadily antagonizing China, pointing to false-flags, and coordinating with China’s enemies (who are being summoned).
All caution is expended to mask the extent of espionage needed; this is why an important section from S. 4638 introduced by Senator Jack Reed on July 8, 2024 was removed. How it is ghosted into the final version, H.R. 5009, signed on December 23, 2024 is a mystery, but for certain those studies are funded. They just can’t make it appear that the U.S. is actually concerned about Russia and China cooperation.
Section 1271 authorizes a “Report on Cooperation Between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China” to be completed over the next six months. The study to be submitted for Congressional Defense Committees will assess the military cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, including nature of their relationship, types of military drills, exercises, technical cooperation, weapons sales, and military-to-military dialogues, cooperation on sharing of nuclear technology, missile technology, stealth technology, counter-stealth technology, drone technology, network data sharing; also an assessment of what actions Russia will take in the event of a crisis between the United States and China. There is of course a lot more spelled out, but the focus is clearly a concern for Russia supporting China in an event of a conflict with the United States or one of its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
What is notable is that the study essentially authorizes and sanctions spy-activities, because that is what is needed for a complete ascertainment. To the extent that Section 1271 requires repeated ongoing assessment, such secret (classified) studies will need to be re-authorized year upon year until the “adversary” is crushed, as is the nature of the United States with its adversaries all around the world. In fact, the United States is heavily interested in recruiting spies as well, especially multilingual Japanese-Chinese-Korean-English speaking spies, as noticed in advertisements last year. The irony is how the United States is heavily investing in propagandizing about “Chinese spying” and “cyber-attacks” while financing all manners of spy activity against adversaries.
Like all enemies prior to war, the importance of objectification of the citizens of the People’s Republic of China is also necessary. This is clearly the case in setting up a one-sided dispute, where excuses are made to avoid meeting with the leaders of the country, where the judgment is cast by authority of Congress or even by the Executive Office without any need of a hearing, much less a reasonable defense at the United Nations. This has been evident in the past several wars (proxy wars against Russia, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, etc) and thus, it will also be the case with the People’s Republic, with exceptions made for useful stooges or hirelings as had been the case in the attempted Hong Kong pro-democracy-revolution led by Joshua Wong (probably spear-headed by USAID).
To be certain, there have been violations of trade secrecy and cyber-hacking by China, but the allegation that China is preparing for war with the U.S. is far-fetched. Here the Left has often pointed out that much of the build-up by China is more a reaction to the announced Asia Pivot begun in 2012 under the Obama Administration. More than anything else, China has focused on building up its transportation corridors inside of China, and building out a network for trade called the One-Belt-One-Road, to enhance economic opportunities. The humanistic approach to development is to conserve energy resources in line with the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations, because in the most realistic sense, there are increasing rising costs for fossil-fuels development and oil-refineries, as seen with respect to costs associated with shale recovery and hydrofracking.
As the environmentalists and Green Party have noted, these costs are exorbitant in every sense: they exact a heavy toll on the environment, in scarce water resources, in heavy pollution, in climate pollution, and contribute to global climate change. Anyone who denies the reality of climate change and rising oceans simply has to be as blind as a bat. It is at least part of the reason why the wildfires have become so horrific, with prolonged wildfire seasons each year since the 2000s, starting earlier each year and ending later each fall. It has in point of fact sucked the U.S. Forest Service budget dry of its resources and the workers needed to fulfill its original mission to care for the Land and serve the People.
Many nations are participating or eager to participate in BRICS, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) not because China is providing “debt servitude” but on the contrary, because BRICS and their representatives are creating a more level playing field whereby life-changing projects are completed: new dams, transportation systems, hospitals, schools, high-rises, water systems, bridges, energy development. There is ample testimony about this even from Argentina, which despite a change in president, is still eager to do business with China. This is also the case with President Lula of Brazil, and also with Mexico’s President Sheinbaum. They know that there is nothing as dignifying for a worker as work opportunities, and infrastructure projects often offer significant rewarding work experiences. There are even complimentary secondary opportunities from provision of business and services.
Short of accomplishing the desired effect of having the nations of the world kowtow to President Trump while ratcheting up a new arena of war with China, all Trump is doing, in line with Project 2025, is hastening the abandonment of the dollar, as most of the nations recognize that the U.S. is an unreliable partner for trade, or even for political alliance. Obviously if that were not the case, as Paul Craig Roberts recently pointed out in a column, “The Tariff Issue,” at his Institute for Political Economy, other options would be on the table. If the U.S. is so concerned about “overproduction” by China, it can place quotas, such as it had done in the past with Japan’s flooding the United States with imported cars.
Over-production is a tendency of all big businesses, whether that is being used for hostile take-overs of smaller companies or not. Amazon.com has been accused of doing this, and even today, the variety of say, earpods offered run the gamut of price ranges. It is inevitable that Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headset, once priced in the hundreds of dollars, are now available at walk-in retail stores at a fraction of the price. New Balance signed an agreement when they set up in China that they understood that eventually there would be knock-off sneakers produced. From the standpoint of factory owners, it makes sense to over-produce, after all, China has 1.4 billion people, and they also might want to buy some nice sports shoes. If you are going to have two shifts, then why not use the same managers to run three shifts? For those Chinese gals, working at the factory, no matter how slavish, has helped them save money to build a home back in the village, and this theme of a “rising tide lifts all boats” is very much in line with a People-Centered approach to business and community development.
Paul Craig Roberts, a former Wall Street Journal editor and renowned economist who served as United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy under President Ronald Reagan, is a somewhat cynical Libertarian who believes in Supply-Side Economics but clearly is a Trump supporter. Nevertheless, his see-sawing arguments in his recent column betrays his skepticism and ambivalence over Trump’s protectionist and punitive global tariffs. He is against income taxation, yet what are tariffs but a form of additional tax ultimately paid by American consumers? Furthermore Dr. Roberts recognizes that luxury items from Europe are not affordable for the working poor, even if tariffs were removed so they could enter the United States more easily. Thus, he elucidates the importance of diplomacy:
“When Apple, for example, brings its products made in China to the US to be marketed, they come in as imports and worsen the trade deficit. Instead of beating up on China, Trump should call the US corporations that offshore their production for US markets to a White House conference and point out to them the consequences of their policy: the shrinkage of the American middle class, the loss of tax base, decaying infrastructure, and loss population of America’s former manufacturing cities, the presure on city and state pension systems, the pressure of lower ratings on municipal bonds. Trump should ask the executives if they went too far in maximizing profits that benefitted relatively few at the expense of the many, and what they should do about it.” — Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, Economist
Even if it sounds like inviting a pack of wolves into the lion’s den where they will all laugh and drink fine wine, much as they do at exclusive gatherings at Davos, it is a useful proposal. With the right observers and public citizens, it can help underscore how disengaged Americans have become from vital manufacturing and income-generating processes. What seems to have filled the vacuum is too much emphasis on the quick riches of financialization, rentier economy, militarization, and people who design various divisive online echo chambers.
However this is no doubt a frustrating time for everyone in China, even though Americans have persistently been encouraged to view them in dehumanized role-playing stereotypes. It is somewhat comparable to how the Catholic Church regards female parishioners and vulnerable older adults. They have given their flesh and livelihoods in doing their part to help fulfill the American dream, but they are accorded less respect than “peasants.” In fact, this reporter’s grandmother once worked for a few years at a tailored clothing factory in Hong Kong, and the income was welcomed into our family, plus she had her own bit of money saved, which accorded her more stature in the village.
Like a child-bride who is dumped for the latest model wife, the Americans simply do not respect the lives and excruciating efforts that people endure overseas. They rather do what their Teacher-Programmer tells them to do which is learn to masturbate at age four, and fantasize about changing sexes at age eight. Meanwhile the elite and globalists are continuing to laugh their way to the bank. The Democrats did call out President Trump for possible stock manipulation on April 9th when at 9:30am he advised his followers on Truth Social that “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT“. This time to buy preceded Trump’s announcement a few hours later at 1:30pm, standing in front of guest race-car drivers at the White House, that he was postponing the tariffs for a few months, except for China. The postponement cause the stockmarket to shoot back up, netting insiders a great profit.
According to speculators, the pump-and-dump may have netted Truth Social, owned by Donald Trump Jr., who owns 53% of the company stock, an estimated $480 million dollars. There is additionally a newsclip from NBC News, “Democrats call for a probe into possible insider trading after Trump tariff reversal,” of an April 9th evening meeting between Trump and billionaire Charles Schwab with Trump pointing out how much more money Schwab had just made, presumably from the pump-and-dump scheme, that one of them had made as much as $900million dollars. Obviously this is much easier faster money than what was made by Ivanka Trump with her shoe factories in China (now in Africa).
These kind of sordid two-faced undertakings reveal that the politicians often are operating by a shadowy playbook where they continue to profit, while normal Americans face rising prices in consumer goods, inflationary pressures, reduced hours, job losses, home foreclosures, bankruptcies, and inability to support their families. Such behaviors would confirm the fear that President Trump is not a “People’s President” after all. But the GOP and Congress are not a monolithic entity anymore than the CCP is, and there are always a few politicians who have somehow remained more trustworthy.
The trenchant rise of tariffs amid the trade war with China will be felt all around the world, because China will tend to try to make up the losses by developing new trade ties elsewhere. Victor Gao did appear more anxious than usual in his April 12th interview with Learning Britain’s Conversation (LBC)’s Matt Frei. Gao asserts that the trade war is a war against humankind, and that to defend the decency, dignity, and honor of the country, China must rise up and defend its own legitimate interests. Free trade is a legitimate interest for the benefit of humankind, Gao asserts. Gao seemed to confute over-production with producing higher quality goods, but his point maybe that the quantity of goods produced correlates with high demand for good quality products. Those high quality products in recent years are the envy of the world, including HuaWei smartphones, and high-speed railways. As a spokesperson, the Minister of Commerce for the People’s Republic of China, Gao seemed apologetic that American consumers will ultimately pay for the tariffs. (It may be several years before replacement factories are completed in the USA). Gao mentions that not only are the Chinese people diligent but they have high principles regarding freedom of trade around the world, between any two countries without interference. Obviously if the USA wants to take it in the direction of a shooting war, which is what it has a tendency to do, then it is highly regrettable, and like a formerly married couple, both will inevitably feel great pain.
“We should embrace peace rather than agitate for war…Just imagine the pains the American people are going through when they are faced with this prospect of so much tariff that they need to pay for their daily goods.” — Victor Gao, Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China (PRC)
While the billionaires do not need to worry about the price of medications, the price of fashion clothing, the price of dishes and plastic ware, the price of hardware and knick-knacks, people will feel the pain if Family Dollar or Dollar Stores are forced to close. They will feel the pain when their favorite Asian Grocery Store closes, which then also impacts the Chinese Restaurant industry. They will feel the pain when automobile headlights are hard to find, or their Napa Auto Store is missing critical auto supplies. They will feel the pain when there is an accompanying logistical supply line issue because certain factories in China had shut down, and the Panamax ships must wait for a full cargo load. They will feel the pain when the general trend of inflation forces the price of everything to go up, with nary a chance of it ever going back down.
And just think about it: one would think from reading Table 5 Chapter 26, that China was furnishing USA toxic household goods, poisonous medications, poorly tailored clothing, malfunctioning smartphones, etc. But clearly this is not the case since China follows the manufacturing guidelines to many of the foreign manufacturers’, even Mercedes’, satisfaction. Most do not even really mind the knockoff products, that help spread some good holiday cheer for the millions of poor people in Asia. But now, just because America really wants very badly to take down BRICS, not China, actually BRICS, it will do anything it can to “refocus on Enemy #1.” What a way to shoot oneself in the foot, all the while claiming to be Christian and Loving Thy Neighbor, and no wonder that if this is how America treats its friends, one must not be surprised at all about what is in store for its “enemies” and “adversaries.”
Photo by AGN in 2016 of Trump International Hotel newly rennovated; Trump Hotel only lasted until 2022 when it was sold to CGI Merchant Group (Waldorf Astoria) for $375 million (profit $100million estimated). Between 1899-2009 it was the Old Post Office of Washington, D.C. housing many federal offices and affiliated nonprofits.