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US-China trade war: Tariffs are exacerbating existing trends, leaving few victors

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    Report

  • 22 Pages
  • January 2019
  • Region: Global
  • MarketLine
  • ID: 4748114
US-China trade war: Tariffs are exacerbating existing trends, leaving few victors

Summary

The trade war between the United States and China began as an attempt by US President Donald Trump to correct what he saw as an unbalanced trading relationship with the second largest economy in the world. However, retaliatory tariffs from China were meted out. Both countries to varying extents, and in different parts of their respective economies, are under pressure due to trade barriers.

Some economic benefits and problems can be attributed to tariffs. For the most part, however, the trade war has exacerbated existing trends. Beyond inflicting some hurt on another economy, the fundamental aims behind the imposition of tariffs have largely been missed.

Key Highlights
  • Whilst there have been some short-term successes, the trade war waged against China has had far-reaching consequences for many industries situated in the world’s largest economy.

  • Echoing the example of the United States, the impact of the trade war on Chinese commerce is largely an exaggeration of existing trends.

  • Neighboring nations to China now stand to gain from companies electing the risks and costs of moving elsewhere are acceptable to reap the rewards of tariff free trade with the United States and China.


Scope
  • Examines the impact of the trade war on the United States

  • Looks at how China is being impacted by the tariffs

  • Assesses whether third-party countries can benefit

  • Looks at the most adversely effected

  • Asses how business dynamics may change between the US and China


Reasons to buy
  • Will either the US or China benefit from trade war?

  • Can other countries benefit from the tariff dispute?

  • Which industries will suffer the most?

  • Will companies continue to leave China?

  • How much influence over Chinese tech firms does the US really have?

Table of Contents

Overview
Catalyst
Summary
Trade war with China is yielding more losses than gains for US economy
Core aims of tariffs are not being achieved despite healthy headline figures
US manufacturing companies are suffering under weight of Chinese tariffs
Tariffs exacerbate rising costs even for international brands based in US
Agriculture is reacting badly to tariffs, revealing inherent weaknesses in US policy
China is suffering losses due to US trade dispute too
Tariffs are making existing trends in Chinese textile manufacturing worse
Chinese technology companies face major threats in US trade war
ZTE example underlines Chinese need for its own supply chain and power held by United States over major players
President Trump can exert a great deal of power over Chinese tech firms in wider political battles
Asian neighbors to China stand to gain from trade war but face risks
Vietnam ideally placed to attract businesses frustrated with new tariff regime
Philippines is also predicted to benefit but faces a tougher time doing so than other regional players
Asia-Pacific nations are competing hard for companies leaving China following imposition of tariffs
Much now rests on results of tariff truce negotiations
Conclusions
For the most part the Chinese and US trade war provides losses
Appendix
Sources
Further Reading
Ask the analyst
About the Author
Disclaimer

List of Figures
Figure 1: US President Donald Trump
Figure 2: Mid-Continent Steel and Wire
Figure 3: US soybean production (millions of tons) 2007-2017
Figure 4: Industrial control systems Asia-Pacific value ($bn) 2010-2017
Figure 5: Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Company (JHICC)
Figure 6: ZTE share price (CNY) 10th January 2017 to 10th January 2018
Figure 7: Vietnam textile mill value ($bn) 2011-2017
Figure 8: Export value ($bn, 2008-2017) of Filipino Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Figure 9: Chinese GDP ($tn) 2007-2017