The Washington Examiner’s Joe Concha argued that President Donald Trump’s “long game” tariffs are “forming” its first step toward an endgame, which could spell trouble for China and the Democratic Party should this gamble pay off.
Concha, a senior writer for the Washington Examiner, explained that Japan is meeting with Trump to negotiate the United States’s tariffs — a meeting that comes a couple of weeks after stock market “volatility.” However, after Trump’s 90-day pause on most of his tariffs, this volatility has stabilized. Results are starting to materialize from the tariff threat, as “150 countries” now seek negotiations with Trump.
“And let’s say this scenario plays out for a moment: United States gets to zero for zero tariffs not just with Japan, but with Europe, but with India, but with countries like Vietnam, for example,” Concha assessed on Fox News’s Outnumbered. “Then all those countries say, ‘OK, we’re all going to go to China, along with the U.S., and say, “All right, unless you go to zero for zero as well, we, Europe, Japan, Vietnam, we’re going to slap 145% tariffs on you.”’ China will have no choice to negotiate, and Democrats, if that scenario plays out, and we have a massive free trade zone, obviously costs come down in this country, Democrats are going to be like in Sherwood Forest wilderness for a very long time because they came out in opposition of this.”
He further explained that if Trump’s tariffs pay off, deeming them the “biggest bet of his life,” the 2026 and 2028 elections could end up being “ugly” for the Democratic Party as it is still seeking direction following the 2024 elections. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley similarly called Democrats “rudderless.”
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On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) suggested that the unemployment China could face from the 145% tariff from the U.S. could force it to negotiate. He pointed out that China is “a massive exporter” of goods, and the U.S. is its biggest customer. His comment mirrors what Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary said about the U.S. and China’s feud with tariffs, claiming that Chinese President Xi Jinping can only remain supreme leader “if people are employed.”
Ahead of Trump’s “Liberation Day” on April 2, retail sales increased 1.4% in March compared to February. This is likely the result of retailers prepping for the tariffs before most were delayed by 90 days. Cars and auto parts sales largely drove the increase, as spending on cars, trucks, and auto parts increased 5.3% compared to February.