# Trump may be starting a Trade War to deflect away Mueller hot on his trail **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 23, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302 "2018-01-23T16:12:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/21 "2018-01-24T18:00:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I didn’t know it was a popular position on the SDMB that there should be a big tax on solar panels. I do not recall any particular threads but that means nothing more than I have a bad memory. I will say Obama imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels in 2012 to fight dumping tactics they felt China was using to strangle the US solar market. Perhaps the SDMB was happy about that but supposedly this merely accelerated the process of Chinese companies moving production to other places like Malaysia and did little to help. As to the OP I seriously doubt this has anything to do with distracting from Mueller. Trump will need an actual shooting war to do that. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/22 "2018-01-24T18:06:02Z")
There are probably many other ways to derail the Mueller investigation. At this point, he’s pretty much letting the Republicans do his dirty work. The brewing trade war with China is completely unrelated to anything happening with the Mueller probe. Trump’s brewing trade war with China has more to do with his (and his cabinet’s) isolationist, anti-global, and nationalist worldview. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/23 "2018-01-24T18:12:15Z")
A trade war with China was basically part of his campaign platform. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/24 "2018-01-24T20:51:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > There are probably many other ways to derail the Mueller investigation. At this point, he’s pretty much letting the Republicans do his dirty work. > > The brewing trade war with China is completely unrelated to anything happening with the Mueller probe. Trump’s brewing trade war with China has more to do with his (and his cabinet’s) isolationist, anti-global, and nationalist worldview. > [@CarnalK](#): > > ``` > A trade war with China was basically part of his campaign platform. > > ``` Exactly. One of the most dismaying things about Trump and those who support him, to me, is how quickly Republicans have jumped on what was once one of the things that turned me off so much about the Democrats, which is trade protectionism verse free trade. It’s funny…I voted for Hillary as much for her stances on free trade as for anything else, while the Republicans seem bound and determined to run the other way, and Trump is the standard bearer. None of this stuff should be a surprise nor does any of it require any great conspiracies about Trump wanting to stifle green energy or derail the Russia investigation…he’s been blathering about China for literally years and one of the big things in his campaign was essentially imposing tariffs and trade protectionism to bring back those great manufacturing jobs and oodles of money. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/25 "2018-01-24T21:22:19Z")
Why does the USPS give China ridiculous [postage rates](https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2017/11/05/how-the-usps-epacket-gives-postal-subsidies-to-chinese-e-commerce-merchants-to-ship-to-the-usa-cheap/#14d86c1a40ca)? Charging them normal rates might cause people to buy more from US merchants. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/26 "2018-01-24T21:30:51Z")
So was Mexico will pay for the wall, but I’m sure you didn’t believe him either. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/27 "2018-01-24T21:35:36Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Agreed. I think it is Astorian and Clu-me-in that have nothing. You wouldn’t really know that unless you knew me. Trump knows that the IC is within range and hovering on a “Checkmate.” I shall not comment further on that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/28 "2018-01-24T21:38:19Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why does the USPS give China ridiculous [postage rates](https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2017/11/05/how-the-usps-epacket-gives-postal-subsidies-to-chinese-e-commerce-merchants-to-ship-to-the-usa-cheap/#14d86c1a40ca)? Charging them normal rates might cause people to buy more from US merchants. From the link. > [@](#): > > International postage rates for incoming packages are set by a U.N. agency called the United Postal Union (UPU). This is a body that was established in 1874 – subsequently being absorbed into the U.N. – that is currently made up of 192 countries which meets every four years to revise its policy and set new terminal fees, with each country getting one vote a piece. While the voting system of the UPU is egalitarian, the shipping rates that it sets are not. According to Nancy Sparks of FedEx Express (via [eCommerceBytes.com](http://eCommerceBytes.com)), the rate structure of the UPU is a system where the “haves pay the have-nots.” Essentially, countries that it deems to be poorer or less developed pay less for shipping to countries that are categorized as being richer. So someone shipping from, say, China, will pay significantly less to ship to a country like the U.S. than an American shipper will pay to send that same package to China. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/29 "2018-01-24T21:50:43Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Mueller is keeping it pretty opaque so both of your opinions seem to me more based on what you probably already thought before it even started. Possible. COULD be just wishful thinking on my part (though I didn’t vote for Trump, so I have no reason to hope he survives). But I think it’s the people expecting impeachment who are engaging in fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/30 "2018-01-24T22:36:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > From the link. By golly, does the President know about this?!?! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/31 "2018-01-25T00:37:05Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > There are probably many other ways to derail the Mueller investigation. At this point, he’s pretty much letting the Republicans do his dirty work. And Russians. The Russian social media campaign is more intense than ever, even more so than during the election, and the Republicans are, if not actively cooperating with it, sure as hell using it. Their continued denials that Russia is a problem have long since passed the point of absurdity. Russia is actively, openly, shamelessly trying to sow mass discord in the United States and the American government is doing nothing to stop them. It’s appalling. So in a sense the trade thing is kinda a distraction. EVERYTHING Trump and his toadies do is an effort to pretend Russia isn’t all over the U.S. political discourse. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/32 "2018-01-25T00:56:07Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Possible. COULD be just wishful thinking on my part (though I didn’t vote for Trump, so I have no reason to hope he survives). > > But I think it’s the people expecting impeachment who are engaging in fantasy. Well the idea that Mueller looks desperate because he tried to get a chat with Trump under oath kind of sounds fantasy to me. Even if it’s a long shot he’s gotta try. I’m reminded of another ongoig thread where someone said Pence looks guilty because he “lawyered up”. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/33 "2018-01-25T01:24:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > And Russians. The Russian social media campaign is more intense than ever, even more so than during the election, and the Republicans are, if not actively cooperating with it, sure as hell using it. Their continued denials that Russia is a problem have long since passed the point of absurdity. > > Russia is actively, openly, shamelessly trying to sow mass discord in the United States and the American government is doing nothing to stop them. It’s appalling. > > So in a sense the trade thing is kinda a distraction. EVERYTHING Trump and his toadies do is an effort to pretend Russia isn’t all over the U.S. political discourse. True, I’d also be real curious what Dana Rohrabacher brought back from his visit to Julian Assange. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/34 "2018-01-25T01:31:58Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well the idea that Mueller looks desperate because he tried to get a chat with Trump under oath kind of sounds fantasy to me. Even if it’s a long shot he’s gotta try. I’m reminded of another ongoig thread where someone said Pence looks guilty because he “lawyered up”. He doesn’t need to get Trump under oath. It’s always a crime to lie to the FBI. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/35 "2018-01-25T03:10:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > And Russians. The Russian social media campaign is more intense than ever, even more so than during the election, and the Republicans are, if not actively cooperating with it, sure as hell using it. Their continued denials that Russia is a problem have long since passed the point of absurdity. > > Russia is actively, openly, shamelessly trying to sow mass discord in the United States and the American government is doing nothing to stop them. It’s appalling. > > So in a sense the trade thing is kinda a distraction. EVERYTHING Trump and his toadies do is an effort to pretend Russia isn’t all over the U.S. political discourse. Their interests are in alignment. Neither Republicans nor Russians believe that a truly democratic outcome is in their best interests, which is why they both want to rig American democracy. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/36 "2018-01-25T17:43:18Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Their interests are in alignment. Neither Republicans nor Russians believe that a truly democratic outcome is in their best interests, which is why they both want to rig American democracy. The Russian media campaign was pretty feeble, and it wasn’t all pro-Republican. They played up Black Lives Matter, which certainly isn’t a fight wing cause. Russia figures anything that hurts or divides America is good for them. Regardless, if Putin thought he’d be th puppet master controlling Trump, can we at least agree that hasn’t happened? What has Putin actually gotten for his $46 grand in Facebook ads? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/37 "2018-01-25T18:41:57Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The Russian media campaign was pretty feeble, and it wasn’t all pro-Republican. They played up Black Lives Matter, which certainly isn’t a fight wing cause. > > Russia figures anything that hurts or divides America is good for them. > > Regardless, if Putin thought he’d be th puppet master controlling Trump, can we at least agree that hasn’t happened? What has Putin actually gotten for his $46 grand in Facebook ads? A gigantic drop in US prestige abroad? He probably would have gotten sanctions relief, but he got caught before that could happen. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/38 "2018-01-25T18:45:47Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > A gigantic drop in US prestige abroad? Has this resulted in anything concrete? Did any countries stop doing business with the US or anything like that? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/39 "2018-01-25T19:01:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Has this resulted in anything concrete? Perhaps it, what ever it is or was, has already happened. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302/40 "2018-01-25T23:31:09Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The solar panel thing is just a way to give a middle finger to environmentalists. > > I don’t see why it matters though. Aren’t solar panels $0.50 a watt now? That would make them $0.65 a watt with a tariff. An extra $0.15 isn’t going to make much difference since solar costs about $3-4 per installed watt. “_Installed_ watt” being the key phrase. The increase, coupled with loss of incentives to buyers, will reduce the number of customers. Meanwhile, US companies will need a lot of time to ramp up production, and their price may still be higher than China’s due to the difference in labor costs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302.md?page=3)