Clinton and Trump Debating China Policies
In the realm of US-China relations, the two leading presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have distinct policies when it comes to trade.
During her tenure as Secretary of State under President Obama, Hillary Clinton initially supported trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which aimed to strengthen economic ties and set trade rules in the Asia-Pacific region, including with China indirectly. However, during her 2016 presidential campaign, Clinton expressed more skepticism about such deals, partly due to concerns over job losses and the failure to adequately address currency manipulation by trade partners.
On the other hand, Donald Trump has taken a confrontational approach, sharply escalating the trade war with China after his election. He has imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports, with baseline tariffs reaching an effective 145%, before negotiating a temporary reduction to 30% in May 2025 to facilitate further talks. Trump's policies stress protecting U.S. manufacturing jobs and pressuring China to change its trade practices, especially targeting technology sectors.
When it comes to currency manipulation, Trump has been vocal about China’s alleged practices and criticized existing trade agreements for not effectively preventing it. Clinton, however, tends to emphasize engagement through trade agreements and multilateral frameworks as a way to address currency manipulation, rather than unilateral tariffs.
Experts predict that Clinton is likely to put implicit pressure on China to revise its currency upwards without explicitly labeling it as a currency manipulator and imposing sanctions. John Raines, a US political analyst at IHS Markit, suggests that Clinton may moderate her tariff policies due to the potential for a trade war.
Donald Trump, however, plans to officially declare China a "currency manipulator" as soon as he is sworn in. He also intends to force China to uphold intellectual property laws and stop the practice of forcing US companies to share proprietary technology with Chinese competitors.
It is expected that under Trump's presidency, there will be a rise in anti-dumping cases brought by the US against China, and new tariffs on China are possible. Trump's approach to US-China trade could potentially lead to a trade war, and his policies could privilege domestic interests by bringing numerous anti-dumping cases against China.
In contrast, Hillary Clinton has a history of negotiating US-China relations, including the US' "pivot to Asia" and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as Secretary of State. Clinton has publicly condemned China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and has maintained this stance throughout her presidential campaign. Her years of experience in diplomacy make direct confrontation with China unlikely.
In terms of US-China relations beyond trade, Trump's approach shows less concern for Asian political affairs compared to Clinton. For instance, Clinton has taken stands against China, sometimes in disagreement with President Obama, such as on women's rights and granting asylum to Chinese activist Chen Guangchen.
As the election approaches, the differences between Clinton and Trump's policies on US-China trade and relations are becoming increasingly clear, with potential significant implications for both countries and the global economy.
- Hillary Clinton's approach to trade finance, particularly with China, during her potential presidency may involve implementing pressure strategies to encourage China to revise its currency, while also maintaining engagement through trade agreements and multilateral frameworks.
- Donald Trump, on the other hand, has pledged to officially declare China a "currency manipulator" upon his inauguration, and is likely to prioritize finance and investing in US manufacturing jobs by imposing high tariffs on Chinese imports, potentially leading to anti-dumping cases and new tariffs.
- In terms of the general-news and politics, the contrasting policies of Clinton and Trump on US-China trade and relations could significantly impact business industries and the global economy, with Clinton's diplomatic experience suggesting a less confrontational approach compared to Trump's trade war rhetoric.
