https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-zte-tweet-sows-confusion-before-trade-talks-with-china/2018/05/14/d2cd049c-57b4-11e8-8836-a4a123c359ab_story.html?utm_term=.817e1d29af85
President Trump, in a bizarre reversal of previous statements and administration policy, tweeted that he would save Chinese tech company ZTE from collapse, citing a loss of Chinese jobs. The reason for the company's failure was sanctions put on the company by the very same US government that is now (apparently) going to bail it out.
ZTE violated sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and was a part of a greater crackdown on Chinese trade coming from the white house. Everyone involved in this administration is baffled by this announcement, with many worried about national security. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who Trump said would personally save the deal, has since attempted to walk back trumps's claims.
I think that this event only proves that, in moments of national security importance, the last thing we need is an unstable demagogue with a twitter account. This trade war with China is reminiscent of the Open Door Policy during the late 1800s, but with a somewhat different dynamic. In this case, China seems to have the upper hand, which, with policy moves like this, doesn't seem like it will change any time soon.
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