randomradio
BANNED
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2016
- Messages
- 6,974
- Reaction score
- -17
- Country
- Location
That is because trade war is not about tax, it's about sustainability. And which side depending on which side more.
Usually the one with Trade surplus would lose. And in this case, it is China.
Why?
Because while China can match US dollars to dollars, but since there are MUCH more Chinese Product US can impose tax than the other way. Which mean if China were to match US dollar to dollar, China would have to double the amount of tax (or whatever amount more required) to match the dollar value to the US.
Say if US impose a 10% of tax in Chinese imported Machinery, which can mean 10% of multi-millions dollar. Which is in itself hundred of thousand of dollars, while China, on the other hand, tax a US imported Car (as if anyone still buying those....) however, a Car does not worth as much as a Industrial Machine, which mean to get up to US level, you will need to probably charge a 3 to 400% tax of the car.
While it may not be Machine vs Car in reality, but in reality we know China have trade surplus over US (Which is why the trade war started in the first place) which mean to achieve dollar to dollar, Chinese tax levy have to be more.
However, just because Chinese Charge more tax, that does not mean that product is not needed in China (That is why it have a market in the first place) Which mean it damage Chinese more (due to higher tax) than US (which you have lower tax on product import from China)
In a long run, it's depends on who can live without who in the market. And since China have more Trade Deficit than US, although it does not mean Chinese are depending more on US market, it do mean China will lose more than US if the trade war continue.
The current level of this "conflict" is too small to matter. It has to escalate a lot, like a lot, before we see the kind of impact worth talking about.
The US has a significant upper hand here.