Archives of “Economic policy of Donald Trump” tag

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The verbatim of Trump’s latest comments is another sign the deal is falling apart

  
Analysis, Politics
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Trump spoke in a Q&A at Apple headquarters

Trump at Apple
Keep in mind that Trump said earlier in his comments that they were considering exempting Apple from tariffs. To me, that alone says he is already a couple steps along in the process of adding tariffs, or at least strongly considering it.
The main headlines have been reported already but the last part is where the context matters.
Reporter: Will there be a trade deal in place before the end of the year?
Trump: So, I can tell you this: China would much rather make a trade deal than me?
Reporter: Then why haven’t they?
Trump: Because I haven’t wanted to do it yet.
Reporter: Why haven’t you wanted to do it.
Trump: Because I don’t think they’re stepping up to the level that I want
Reporter: I spoke earlier today with Mr Cook and he said another round of tariffs would be bad for business, it would be bad for the United States (interrupted by Trump)
Trump: You know, here’s what I would say. What do you know? I put in tariffs and everyone said ‘Oh geez, you’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars’ and everyone said ‘oh that’s going to be bad for the economy’. Well, as you just heard from Tim Cook, we have the strongest economy by far in the world and we’re taking in billions and billions. So we’ll see what happens.

(more…)

Pres. Trump: Tariffs that are set to go in place on Sunday against China are still on

  
Analysis, Politics
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Pres Trump says tariffs will go on as planned on Sunday.

Pres Trump says tariffs will go on as planned on Sunday.
Before departing the White House for the weekend told reporters,
  • He can’t say whether he will speak to Xi, but US is speaking to China
  • Tariffs set to go in place on Sunday against China are still on
  • “We are going to win the fight” with China
  • Trade meeting with China in September is still on, it has not been canceled
  • US is in incredible negotiating position with China because of tariffs it has placed on Chinese imports
  • He sees a connection between situation in Hong Kong and China trade talks
  • Chinese response in Hong Kong will be much more violent if were not for the trade talks
  • Repeats China wants to make a trade deal
On other topics:
  • Too soon to call for evacuation Florida.  Determination will likely be made on Sunday
  • Asked if he would like to see negative interest rates in the United States, says no.

The squeeze remains on.

Dollar holds firmer amid shift in risk mood earlier

  
  Analysis
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Markets are still largely more optimistic following Trump’s remarks on trade

EUR/USD H1 26-08

The dollar is holding firmer across the board following Trump’s more optimistic take on trade relations with China earlier in the European morning. Although the greenback has pared its advance against the aussie, it has notably gained against the euro, pound and yen.

EUR/USD is now trading near the lows for the day at around 1.1117 with the euro also finding little comfort from the latest German Ifo survey report moments ago.
Although the dollar is traditionally seen as a haven currency, one of the key factors affecting the currency now is Fed pricing.
Earlier in the day, Fed fund futures saw ~29% odds of the Fed cutting rates by 50 bps in September. After Trump’s remarks, those odds have been slashed to just ~15% now.
As such, that is helping to put a bid back in the dollar. Looking ahead, be wary of potential trade developments as it will continue to play a part in influencing Fed expectations ahead of the September FOMC meeting.

Trump says latest tariffs could be raised to above 25%

  
  Analysis
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Trump on tariffs

  • Trump says he can do more or he can do less on tariffs depending on how negotiations go
  • Could be raised “well above” 25% but “we’re not looking to do that”
  • He also said the new tariff is for a ‘short-term’ period
  • If China doesn’t want to trade with us anymore that’s fine with me
  • I think Xi wants to do a deal, but he’s not moving fast enough
  • China isn’t moving fast enough on fentanyl
  • The stock market will “take a little hit but it it will be phenomenal”
That’s not exactly a playbook that anyone can depend on.

With election over, US wants Abe to deliver on Iran and trade

  
Analysis, Politics
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Having scored a sound victory in the upper house election Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is back to confronting thorny diplomatic issues as Washington presses for tangible results on global security and trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump had signaled that he would wait until the Japanese election is over to push for a trade deal. Now Washington is certain to step up pressure to put together an agreement palatable to U.S. farmers ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Japan is increasingly alarmed by the U.S. bringing Trump style deal-making to diplomacy and trade.

John Bolton, the U.S. national security adviser, was in the Japanese capital Monday, seeking Tokyo’s support amid rising tensions with Iran. Bolton told Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya that their two countries “are at an extremely critical juncture to strengthen the bilateral alliance.” He likely called on Tokyo to participate in a coalition that would safeguard ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized a British oil tanker in the strait on Friday. A Japanese-owned oil tanker also suffered an attack in the area in June.

Discussions about the future of the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue over the next several days and weeks, Bolton told reporters after his meeting with Iwaya, adding that he was very “optimistic” about the outcome.

Abe told reporters on Monday that he first wanted to focus on what Japan could do to ease tensions in the Middle East. “The peace and stability of the Middle East are critically important for Japan’s energy security,” Abe said. (more…)

Who Is Winning The Trade War?

  
  Analysis
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China on Wednesday urged the Trump administration to “make up its mind” about reaching a trade deal with Beijing, warning that additional tariffs could send negotiations further off track. — South China Morning Post, July 17

We state emphatically,

Nobody Wins In A Trade War

We’re not sure how to even keep score in a trade war.  The relative performance of stock markets?  Economies?

Trade Deficit

President Trump likes to look at the bilateral trade deficit.   However, during his tenure, the cumulative trade deficit with China has increased by almost $100 billion, 8 percent higher relative to the prior 28 months before he took office.

 

China Trade War (more…)

Trump and Powell spoke for five minutes on May 20

  
  Analysis
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No word on what they spoke about

I’m sure Trump just called to say how much he respected the Fed’s independence.
The report comes from the just-published calendar.
No word on what they spoke about

Here was the news wrap from May 20. There wasn’t much going on that day but Trump and Powell did both speak later that evening. Here were the comments from Powell. He also said that it was premature to make judgement on trade & tariff impacts on path for monetary policy.

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