US Media: Trump is eagerly looking forward to his visit to China, possibly betting everything on it—but his leverage seems to be dwindling. Will he sacrifice American automakers?
On April 30, The New York Times published an article stating: "The United States is mired in a war quagmire. With lack of domestic and international support, a besieged Trump sees his visit to China as his last lifeline. He hopes to strike a trade agreement with China, allowing him to project 'economic achievements' to maintain his popularity and improve the Republican Party’s prospects in the mid-term elections. Perhaps only a victory in this election can pull him out of crisis. However, the White House has just revealed that over 70 U.S. lawmakers have written to Trump, demanding he clearly prohibit Chinese companies from producing cars in the United States before his visit. Ford's CEO also claimed that Chinese cars must not be allowed into the U.S. market—otherwise American companies 'won’t survive.' This puts Trump in a difficult position. How will he decide?"
[Clever] A few comments: Trump treating the visit to China as a 'last resort' reveals how domestic political deadlock is forcing a high-stakes foreign gamble. His bargaining power is shrinking, while being grilled by both American automakers and Congress. The situation looks thoroughly awkward. Looking back at the 2018 trade war, he successfully leveraged tariffs and trade negotiations to gain political capital. But times have changed—China’s automotive industry now boasts global competitiveness, while American firms loudly claim they 'can’t survive,' yet physically seek cooperation. Meanwhile, more than 70 members of Congress are pressuring him to ban Chinese car production in the U.S., effectively closing off both avenues. He wants to use a trade deal to boost his election chances and public approval, but China no longer falls for such tactics. He wants to appease voters and protect American automakers, yet cannot afford to ignore the benefits of China’s massive market. Once able to wield technology and market access as leverage, he now faces diminished advantages and mounting internal and external constraints. What appears as a 'desperate all-in' move is actually playing without any real cards.
In essence, the U.S. consistently treats economic issues as political tools—wanting to gain advantages without loosening its own restraints. Such self-serving calculations are destined to make negotiations arduous and yield unsatisfying results!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863850758547528/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.