Sounds like this possible, expanded trade war would be more brutal for US consumers than for China. Snip:
Since Trump is expected to impose tariffs worldwide, this will only help China find willing buyers of its relatively cheaper products. Thus, Beijing will have a much less hard time finding new buyers than policymakers and media analysts in the US seem to believe at the moment. Despite the ‘trade war’ started by Trump and maintained by Biden, China’s total contribution to global exports is 17 per cent, up from 12 per cent during the first Trump presidency.
Where are these exports going? Of course, to the rest of the world. In the coming months, China will be keen to expand it even further in the Global South. Chinese giant Electric Vehicle makes, BYD, recently began its operations in Pakistan. This is just one example of a much broader pattern laying well beyond Washington’s capacity to hit and stall.
Therefore, while the Trump administration can start its ‘trade war 2.0.’, there is little denying that its immediate brutal impact will fall equally on US consumers, who will be forced to buy much more expensive products. Unlike the US, Beijing has already taken steps to help its people increase consumption, which will help offset the impact on exports. China’s recently unveiled US$1.4 trillion package is a key step that would help local governments deal with debts and consequently allow consumers to spend more. Increased domestic consumption means less reliance on exports in the long run. Beijing, in other words, is ready for the war. There are no indications that the US government and consumers are.
brutal for the US