Chinese Can Survive Tariffs Unlike Americans

As someone who’s spent years advocating for the working class, I’ve been closely watching the chaos unfolding around Trump’s tariff policies. The constant back-and-forth—announcing sky-high tariffs one day, pausing them the next, carving out exceptions for certain goods—has left markets reeling and workers wondering what’s next. It’s like watching someone try to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded, and I can’t help but feel that the working class, as always, will bear the brunt of this mess. Let’s unpack what’s happening, step by step, and see if these tariffs are really the lifeline for American workers they’re being sold as, or if they’re just another policy that benefits the elite while leaving us in the dust.

First, let’s talk about the global context. I was struck by the news that Vietnam just signed 45 new business deals with China during President Xi Jinping’s recent state visit. These agreements, covering everything from railway development to technology transfers and preferential loans, show how deeply interconnected Southeast Asia is becoming with China. Vietnam, with $205 billion in trade with China, is a key supply chain partner, and these deals signal a commitment to mutual economic growth. Yet, Vietnam faces U.S. tariffs—currently paused for 90 days, but previously set at a staggering 46%. This got me thinking: if the U.S. is slapping tariffs on countries like Vietnam, which are building win-win partnerships, aren’t we just pushing them closer to China? For American workers, this could mean fewer opportunities as global supply chains shift away from the U.S., leaving our manufacturing sector even more isolated.

Then there’s China’s technological leap forward, which I find both fascinating and sobering. They’ve just authorized pilotless electric flying taxis in Guangzhou and Hefei, a world first. These autonomous air taxis aren’t just a sci-fi gimmick—they’re set to revolutionize urban mobility, from tourism to daily commutes. Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we’re stuck debating whether to fund basic infrastructure like roads and bridges. For the working class, this contrast is stark. Jobs in cutting-edge industries like autonomous aviation could provide stable, well-paying work, but China’s racing ahead while we’re mired in policy gridlock. I can’t help but wonder if our focus on tariffs is distracting us from investing in the kind of innovation that could actually create jobs for American workers.

On the geopolitical front, I was disturbed by the story of a British MP denied entry to Hong Kong. The narrative pushed by some Western media painted her as an innocent grandmother barred from seeing her grandchild, but digging deeper, it’s clear there’s more to it. She’s tied to an organization with a history of anti-China activism, linked to groups like the National Endowment for Democracy, which has a track record of meddling in foreign affairs. During the 2019-2020 Hong Kong riots, this group allegedly fueled violence that tore the city apart—burned businesses, assaulted citizens, and worse. As someone who stands with workers, I see this as a reminder of how powerful interests manipulate narratives to destabilize regions, often at the expense of ordinary people who just want peace and stability to earn a living. It makes me question whether our government’s hardline stance on China is really about protecting us, or if it’s serving agendas that don’t prioritize the working class.

Health advancements in China also caught my eye. Researchers at Tianjin University have identified silibinin, a compound from traditional Chinese medicine, as a potential inhibitor of liver cancer growth. This discovery, building on China’s history of mining its pharmacopeia for treatments like artemisinin for malaria, could lead to safer, more effective cancer therapies. For American workers, many of whom struggle with inadequate healthcare, this is a bittersweet revelation. Imagine if we invested in similar research here, ensuring that working-class families could access cutting-edge treatments without bankrupting themselves. Instead, our healthcare system often leaves us choosing between medical bills and putting food on the table. China’s progress here underscores how far behind we’re falling, and tariffs won’t fix that.

Now, let’s dive into the heart of the issue: Trump’s tariff policies. The rollercoaster started with a declaration of massive tariffs—145% on China, 46% on Vietnam, and blanket tariffs on others. Markets lost $10 trillion in two days, only to recover, then dip again. Bonds tanked, and top hedge fund managers are now predicting a recession. Trump then deferred tariffs on most countries for 90 days, except for China, but carved out exceptions for Chinese electronics like phones, computers, and semiconductors. This flip-flopping is dizzying, and I can’t shake the feeling that it’s less about strategy and more about chaos. For workers, this uncertainty is a nightmare. Factories can’t plan, jobs hang in the balance, and prices for everyday goods are already creeping up. If tariffs are supposed to protect American jobs, why do they feel like a wrecking ball aimed at our wallets?

The rationale behind these tariffs, we’re told, is to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and bring manufacturing back home. But I’m skeptical. The idea that a trade deficit is inherently bad is like believing the earth is flat—it’s a simplistic view that ignores how economies actually work. The U.S. benefits from the current financial system, printing dollars to buy goods made by workers in places like China and Vietnam. Those countries, in turn, have historically invested in U.S. Treasury bonds, but now they’re diversifying away from dollars because of our own aggressive policies. For American workers, this system has flaws, but it’s kept goods affordable. Tariffs threaten to jack up prices, hitting the working class hardest, while the wealthy shrug off the extra costs.

What’s more, the claim that tariffs will reindustrialize America feels like a fairy tale. Deindustrialization took decades, driven by corporations chasing profits through speculation and monopolies rather than manufacturing. China, by contrast, industrialized through state-led policies—investing in infrastructure, education, and strategic sectors like electric vehicles, where they now lead the world. I saw a clip of a U.S. manufacturer explaining why he can’t move production back from China. In China, he gets a product for $250, fully packaged and shipped, in six weeks. In the U.S., it’d cost $1,200, with endless headaches over basic production details. Even with 60% tariffs, China’s still cheaper and more reliable. This isn’t just about wages—it’s about China’s efficient supply chains, skilled workforce, and government support for industry. For American workers, this means tariffs won’t magically bring back factory jobs. We’d need massive investments in infrastructure, worker training, and public ownership of key sectors—things the current administration is cutting, not funding.

The economic fallout is already clear. Tariffs act like a consumption tax, disproportionately burdening working-class families who spend a larger share of their income on goods. Trump’s plan seems to be using tariff revenue to fund tax cuts for the rich and corporations, shifting the tax burden from capital to labor. This is a slap in the face to workers who’ve been promised “good manufacturing jobs” but are instead facing higher prices and job insecurity. Meanwhile, the U.S. relies heavily on Chinese imports—electronics alone make up 40% of China’s exports to us. Trump’s exemptions for these goods show he knows we can’t produce them domestically anytime soon. So, we’re stuck paying more for the same imports, with no clear path to reindustrialization.

Geopolitically, the tariffs are sold as a way to counter China’s rise, but I’m not convinced this is about protecting workers. The rhetoric around China as a “threat” often veers into dangerous territory, painting it as a civilizational enemy rather than an economic competitor. I’ve heard claims that China’s manufacturing could fuel military aggression, but let’s be real: China hasn’t fought a war since 1979, while the U.S. has been embroiled in conflicts nonstop. This fearmongering distracts from the real issue: our own elites have financialized the economy, siphoning wealth to the top while workers struggle with stagnant wages and crumbling infrastructure. China’s exports to the U.S. are just 3% of its GDP, and falling, with ASEAN now its largest trading partner. They’re diversifying, while we’re doubling down on a strategy that’s already backfiring.

The push to “reset” trade with China, as some advocate, ignores how interconnected our economies are. The U.S. exports oil, gas, soybeans, and advanced semiconductors to China—all replaceable. China’s already developing its own chip ecosystem, reducing reliance on U.S. tech, and buying more from countries like Brazil. If we cut trade ties, we lose more than they do. For every dollar China loses in this tariff war, estimates suggest the U.S. loses seven. Workers will feel this through higher prices and fewer jobs, while corporations find ways to pass costs onto us. The idea that tariffs will force other countries to align with us against China is also shaky—nations like Vietnam are deepening ties with China, not distancing themselves.

Then there’s the cultural undertone to this anti-China push, which I find deeply troubling. Some Silicon Valley figures frame China as a threat to “Western civilization,” a dog whistle for racial and cultural supremacy. This isn’t about economics—it’s about fear of a non-white, non-Western nation outpacing us. As a working-class advocate, I reject this. Workers in China, like us, just want decent wages and a stable life. Their government’s focus on public wealth—building infrastructure, healthcare, and education—has lifted millions out of poverty, while our elites hoard wealth in yachts and mansions. If anything, we should be learning from China’s industrial policies, not demonizing them.

So, where does this leave the working class? Tariffs won’t bring back the manufacturing jobs we’ve lost—not without a revolution in how we approach economic policy. We need a government that invests in us: in our schools, our roads, our factories, and our healthcare. We need to train workers for high-skill jobs in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. We need to break up monopolies that prioritize profits over production. Instead, we’re getting policies that raise costs, enrich the wealthy, and stoke division. The working class deserves better than being pawns in a geopolitical game we didn’t choose.

As I reflect on this, I can’t help but ask: Are these tariffs really about saving American workers, or are they a distraction from the real work of rebuilding our economy? Why aren’t we investing in the infrastructure and training needed to compete globally? And most importantly, how much longer will the working class have to pay the price for policies that promise prosperity but deliver pain? What do you think—can tariffs deliver for workers, or are we being sold a myth?