The Story How China is playing Trump
5 snips
Apr 10, 2025 
Rana Mitter, the S.T. Lee Chair in U.S.-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School and a specialist on modern China, dives into the intense trade war between the U.S. and China. He analyzes the implications of skyrocketing tariffs and their historical context. Mitter discusses China's economic dilemmas, including rising youth unemployment and its property market struggles. The conversation also touches on how this trade conflict could influence the future of iPhone production and examines China's potential strategies to leverage economic pressure on the U.S.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Shifting Global Dynamics
- China has historically been the unpredictable actor in global affairs, often forcing the US and the West to react.
- Now, the US under Trump is the unpredictable actor, putting China in a reactive position.
Trade War Escalation
- Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement included new tariffs on China, adding to existing levies.
- China responded with their own tariffs on US goods, escalating the trade war.
Historical Parallels to High Tariffs
- Tariffs at 104% are highly unusual, comparable to levels seen during the Great Depression.
- The Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 is an example of such high tariffs worsening a global recession.