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Trump's Predisposition
Who: This story involves both the U.S. and China, their leaders and consumers in their market.
What: A 2014 Trump tweet stating "Remember, China is a not a friend of the United States!"
Where: Namely U.S. and China; potential world implications
When: The tweet was posted May 20th, 2014
Why: This set the stage for anti-China sentiments which would eventually persist as Trump entered the Presidency. -
Presidential Campaign
Who: Donald Trump, the U.S. and China
What:At a campaign rally, Trump sets a precedent for his potential Presidency: he would deal with trade abuses by the Chinese.
Where: The rally was held in Indiana
When: May 5, 2016
Why: This is important because, as we know, Trump would go on to win the Presidency. His rallying cry to push back against the Chinese all the way back in 2016 would define his policies as President. -
A Promising Sign
Who: President Trump, the U.S. and China
What: The two nations strike a trade deal which covers such products as beef and poultry but other products like steel and aluminum lead to disagreements and are left unresolved.
Where: The deal affects the U.S. and China
When: May 11, 2017
Why: This was the first major trade deal with China in Trump's Presidency. It marked a possible positive trend in the situation. -
The First Tariffs
Who: President Trump, U.S. and China
What: President Trump announced tariffs on imported Chinese solar cells and certain washing machines.
Where: U.S. and China
When: January 22, 2018
Why: -
An Easy Trade War
Who: President Trump, U.S. and China
What: President Trump posted a tweet claiming that trade wars are easy to win and are very helpful when a country is losing billions on trade (which he believed the U.S. was doing).
Where: U.S. and China
When: March 2, 2018
Why: Trump's insistence that this would be an easy trade war would anger the Chinese and prompt them to take further action, likely damaging the U.S. and/or world economy. -
China Retaliates
Who:President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: In response to President Trump's 25% and 10% tariffs on steel and aluminum respectively, China placed tariffs on about $3 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Where: U.S. and China, global implications
When: April 1, 2018
Why: This was China's first act of retaliation against the U.S. tariffs and began to have global implications. -
First Talks Fail
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: Delegates from the U.S. and China hold a round of talks in Beijing and fail to come to any agreement. Negotiations that follow would also yield no deal.
Where: Beijing, China
When: May 3, 2018
Why: -
Tensions Rise
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: The Trump Administration announces that it will put in place a 25% tariff on $50 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing responds immediately with tariffs on $50 billion of U.S. goods.
Where: U.S. and China
When: June 15, 2018
Why: This event marked yet another bad sign for the trade war as talks had not recently been held and tensions were rising. -
Trump Forges Ahead
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: Trump announces 10% tariffs on $200 billion Chinese goods, with plans to increase this to 25% in 2019. He threatens additional tariffs on $267 billion in Chinese products if Beijing fires back.
Where: U.S. and China
When: September 17, 2018
Why: These tariffs were unprecedented and massive and heightened the danger to the world economy as a whole. -
Leaders Reconnect
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: President Trump and President Xi reconnect via a phone call. Trump states later that they put "a heavy emphasis on trade."
Where: U.S. and China
When: November 1, 2018
Why: This signaled a promising reconnection and hopefully talks sooner rather than later in the interest of ending the trade war. -
Nations Strike a Deal
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: President Trump and President Xi have dinner at the G-20 in Argentina. The U.S. agrees it will delay the previously planned tariff rate (on $200 billion Chinese goods) increase from 10% to 25%. They set out to strike a deal in 90 days.
Where: Argentina
When: December 1, 2018
Why: This was the first real deal made between the countries since the trade war began. -
Tariffs Delayed Again
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: Trump once again delays the 10% to 25% tariff increase, citing progress in talks and says that a summit will be planning a summit at his Mar-a-Lago resort to come up with an agreement.
Where: U.S. and China
When: February 24, 2019
Why: This marked a continuation of relatively good talks and hopeful signs of a resolution. -
Talks Fall Apart
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: Trump announces that he will increase tariff rates on China as he believes talks are moving "too slowly" and China attempts to "renegotiate." Beijing is later accused of backing out of major commitments in the potential agreement.
Where: U.S. and China
When: May 5, 2019
Why: This was the demise of the previously hopeful atmosphere in which things seemed to be going well. Now, the trade war would likely continue, and get far worse. -
The War Resumes
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: The previously planned tariff increase from 10% to 25% on $200 billion Chinese goods occurs after much delay. China would retaliate June 1 with tariffs as high as 25% on $60 billion in U.S. goods.
Where: U.S. and China
When: May 10, 2019
Why: This was the next major "attack" the nations launched against each other and signaled yet another escalation in the already hostile situation. -
The Struggle Continues
Who: President Trump, President Xi Jinping, U.S. and China
What: The leaders negotiate during the G-20 in Japan. They discuss Huawei; the U.S. will still sell them products.
Where: Japan
When: June 29, 2019
Why: This is the most current event and signals perhaps another period of talks toward an end to the war. Prediction: I believe talks will continue, but will fall apart again. Nothing will be resolved until the leaders realize the effect they are having on the economy of their nations.
