Treasury Secretary Bessent says China's escalation was 'big mistake,' country playing with 'losing hand'
Source: CNBC
Published Tue, Apr 8 2025 7:22 AM EDT Updated 5 Hours Ago
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday the U.S. holds a substantial advantage over China as the two nations exchange threats in a burgeoning trade war.
I think it was a big mistake, this Chinese escalation, because theyre playing with a pair of twos, Bessent said during an interview on CNBCs Squawk Box. What do we lose by the Chinese raising tariffs on us? We export one-fifth to them of what they export to us, so that is a losing hand for them.
The comments come a day ahead of the U.S. raising its duties on China and dozens of other nations as part of so-called reciprocal tariffs whose purpose, Bessent said, is to bring trading partners to the negotiating table and jobs back to the U.S.
So far, he said Japan has been at the forefront of countries eager to negotiate, and the White House expects a multitude of others.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-chinas-escalation-was-big-mistake-country-playing-with-losing-hand.html
When they sell most of the manufactured goods that we buy, we have no "advantage". Someone needs to pull out the hook and get him off the stage.

NoMoreRepugs
(11,888 posts)patphil
(8,879 posts)China is already a dictatorship, and can weather an economic storm easier than the US can.
They're not ever going to get voted out of office.
truthisfreedom
(23,523 posts)They have no grip on reality.
mwb970
(12,112 posts)3Hotdogs
(15,184 posts)Z. didn't even have no cards so he shouldn't'a tried to get into the game.
ImNotGod
(1,194 posts)Evolve Dammit
(21,656 posts)Irish_Dem
(80,490 posts)If they sell this debt, there could be some disruption in the US economy?
This is a card China holds?
BadgerKid
(4,971 posts)So around 1/5th of debt. it seems like a small chunk.
Irish_Dem
(80,490 posts)IbogaProject
(5,727 posts)These are held and the active market is much smaller compared to the total face value. This will start to have problems, but that would be the endgame as they want to get their money back from them.
BumRushDaShow
(167,589 posts)LudwigPastorius
(14,429 posts)Now that Trump has put the U.S. economy on its heels, Xi may want to see how long he lasts by going all in.
Irish_Dem
(80,490 posts)LudwigPastorius
(14,429 posts)It's not the war he wants. He wants an "easy" war (Panama).
If I had to bet, I'd say he orders troops to defend Taiwan because he'll view an invasion by China as a challenge to his ego.
Irish_Dem
(80,490 posts)LudwigPastorius
(14,429 posts)sinkingfeeling
(57,554 posts)Somehow, I think China holding our debt (Treasury Securities to the tune of around $770 Billion) gives them a pretty good hand.
