To a 14 year high (in absolute terms, not as a share of GDP). Shrinkage in US-China deficit stalls.
Category Archives: Trade Policy
Wisconsin during the Trade War
The national trade deficit is larger than when Trump took office. We don’t know for sure the gap between Wisconsin goods exports and imports. We do know the gap between exports of goods originating in Wisconsin, and imports with destinations in Wisconsin, as recorded in the Customs data.
Protectionist High Water Mark?
“… the quick fix, of the “countervailing tariff,” “voluntary” restraints, and the like, will only mean higher prices for consumers in the short run, and greater distress in the long term. “Reciprocity” … notwithstanding, protectionism will only prove a temporary, and costly, palliative for inefficient industries, in a world populated by NICs, MICs and [Advanced Developing Countries].”
Manufacturing Employment, Hours and Output and the Trade War, Pre-Covid-19
Can we settle on a verdict on whether the trade war saved manufacturing? One way is to examine how the manufacturing sector fared.
The Trade Balance Today, and Near Future
If we wanted to reduce the trade deficit — let’s say because we wanted to increase aggregate demand and hence employment, rather than some atavistic belief the deficits are bad — then we will probably need to convincingly deal with the pandemic. Remember, the trade deficit (in NIPA terms) is now bigger than it was the day Mr. Trump took office.
Stop the Uncertainty!
The economic policy uncertainty, that is (With apologies to Susan Powter). Regardless of where you are on the econo-political spectrum, you should want economic policy uncertainty to be reduced. Remember all those conservative voices in the post-Global Financial Crisis saying policy uncertainty was slowing the economic recovery? Well, today is an opportunity to return considered, coherent, economic policymaking and trade negotiations.
The July Trade Release
Trade deficit grows. US-China goods trade deficit is now growing too.
Guest Contribution: “The Trade War Has Cost 175,000 Manufacturing Jobs and Counting”
Today, we are pleased to present a guest contribution written by Lydia Cox (Harvard University) and Kadee Russ (University of California, Davis), both formerly on the staff of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Trade Deficit Surges During the Recession
The trade balance hit -$63.6 billion (monthly, seasonally adjusted) in July. The trade balance has been deteriorating since the recession began, in contrast to what usually happens — an improvement in the trade balance, as imports decline with a decline in domestic economic activity.
The US-China Trade War/Soybean Front: Home before the (Next Batch of) Leaves Fall
On July 9, 2018, over two years ago, reader CoRev wrote:
Those of us arguing against the constant anti-tariff, anti-Trump dialogs have noted this will probably be a price blip lasting until US/Chinese negotiations end. We are on record saying the prices will be back approaching last year’s harvest season prices.