President Trump stated Wednesday that he isn’t worried about the effects of the ongoing trade war with China on American consumers. During a cabinet meeting, he remarked, “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30.” His comment came in response to a journalist’s question about when he plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump emphasized that China is facing significant challenges with its factories and that the U.S. doesn’t need much of what China has been selling. He added, “Somebody said, ‘Oh, the shelves are going to be empty,’ but maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30, and maybe those two dolls will cost a little more.”
Trump dismissed concerns, saying that China has ships loaded with products the U.S. doesn’t necessarily need, and stressed the importance of making a fair deal. He further criticized China, calling it the “leading candidate for the chief ripper-offer.” Since taking office, Trump has imposed tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods, up from about 21% when he began.
Despite the tariffs, there have been speculations about temporary reductions to encourage negotiations. Flexport, a global logistics company, has reported a sharp decline in shipments from China to the U.S., with cancellation rates for trans-Pacific voyages around 50%. The economic impact has sparked concerns about a potential recession, empty store shelves, and layoffs in the trucking and retail sectors.
Trump has long argued that the U.S. doesn’t need imported goods from countries like Canada and Mexico and has imposed tariffs on foreign-made cars, steel, and aluminum. He also announced a new 10% baseline tariff on most imports, with an exception for some trade partners while talks are ongoing. Trump indicated that new tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs are also in the works, urging companies to invest in the U.S. before the tariffs are implemented.
