The ongoing US-China trade war, fueled by US President Donald Trump's high tariffs on Chinese goods, has led to a significant drop in cargo volumes at major American ports. This decline threatens to damage the US economy and disrupt the lives of consumers and workers. However, Trump recently dismissed these concerns, calling the slowdown a "good thing," drawing sharp criticism from media outlets and economists.
Speaking about the port slowdown, Trump commented, "That means we lose less money. … When you say it slowed down, that's a good thing, not a bad thing." He also claimed that China had made "over US$1 trillion" from the US in the past.
In response, US magazine The New Republic criticized Trump, stating that his logic assumes less trade with China would reduce the trade deficit. The magazine accused Trump of failing to understand what a trade deficit means, adding, "Trump's continued insistence we've been taken for a ride betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of economics, built off a dislike of other countries."
Meanwhile, CNN reported that last Friday (May 9), not a single cargo ship from China docked at key West Coast ports, marking the first "zero" record since the COVID-19 pandemic. This disruption has left the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles eerily quiet, with dockworkers jokingly referring to it as an early summer vacation. Six days earlier, 41 Chinese cargo ships were scheduled to depart, but all were canceled, far exceeding expectations.
Jacob, head of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, which represents West Coast port owners and operators, emphasized the importance of foreign trade for the US supply chain and manufacturing industries. He noted that every US$1 million (approximately HK$7.79 million) in imports contributes US$2 million (approximately HK$15.58 million) to the US economy and supports 12 domestic jobs.
(Video source: PBS News)
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