Trump vows sweeping tariffs to reshape global trade landscape

Trump vows sweeping tariffs to reshape global trade landscape

2024-11-29

Countries around the world are bracing for economic upheaval as incoming US President Donald Trump threatens massive tariffs, especially on China. The uncertainty has left governments and businesses struggling with how to respond. VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.

During his first term, Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on China, shaking the global economy. Ahead of his return, Trump is vowing even more drastic measures – 10% tariffs on all imports to the US and a staggering 60% on goods from China. While China hasn’t commented directly on Trump’s threats, it has warned against further trade tensions.

Mao Ning
China foreign ministry spokesperson
There’s no winner in a trade war, nor will the world benefit from it.

Any Trump tariffs could especially hurt economies that depend on exports but an expanded US-China trade war could also create opportunities. Many countries have benefited as production shifts away from China to avoid tariffs. Thailand’s commerce minister recently told VOA’s Thai Service his country has seen an influx of US companies relocating factories from China.

Pichai Naripthaphan
Thai commerce minister
We should be able to weather this. I actually see these problems as benefits for Thailand. I believe that we can be an investment destination for every country.

Much of the uncertainty stems from Trump’s unpredictability. During his first term, he often used the prospect of tariffs as a bargaining tool, before eventually striking individual trade deals, analyst Jayant Menon says.

Jayant Menon
Senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
Trump is not a protectionist, I think, right? He’s a dealmaker. That’s what he likes to present himself as – you know, the art of the deal and all that. So he likes free trade agreements that he has a role in.

Menon says countries targeted by Trump could push for new trade agreements, instead of tit-for-tat tariff escalations that could harm themselves and the global economy. Not all of Trump’s proposals point toward increased protectionism. He has also suggested rolling back subsidies for US-made electric vehicles – subsidies put in place by the Biden administration.

Jayant Menon
Senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
He’s already called them silly in a podcast with Joe Rogan. So he’s probably going to roll them back. And that’s a positive in terms of the distortions that affect the global economy.

Both risks and opportunities as the world figures out how to respond to the return of an unpredictable U.S. president.

Bill Gallo, VOA News, Seoul, South Korea.

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川普將打關稅戰各國嚴陣以待

2024-11-29

即將上任的美國總統川普，揚言要對中國等國進行大規模的關稅加徵措施。不確定性讓各國政府和企業如臨大敵，對如何應對摸不著頭緒。來自美國之音的報導。

川普首次擔任美國總統時，對中國實施了全面性的貿易關稅措施，震撼了全球經濟。現在川普即將回鍋，誓言將更為激進，除了對所有外國產品徵收10%的進口關稅，對中國進口商品更要加徵60%的關稅。中方雖然沒有對此直接做出評論，但意有所指。

[[中國外交部發言人毛寧]]
“貿易戰沒有贏家，也不利於全世界”

川普的關稅措施，可能重傷依賴出口的經濟體，但擴大的美中貿易戰，也可能創造新的機會。為了避免關稅帶來的影響，許多產業出逃中國，泰國商務部長表示，看到很多美國公司將工廠從中國移到泰國。

[[泰國商務部長 Pichai Naripthaphan]]
“我們應該能夠度過這個困難。事實上，我認為這對泰國來說是有利的，我相信我們可以成為各個國家的投資首選”

川普的不可預測性，讓一切充滿了不確定性。專家表示，川普在首次任期中，就經常將關稅作為談判工具，最終簽訂個別的貿易協議。

[[東南亞事務專家Jayant Menon]]
“我認為川普並不是一個保護主義者，對吧？他是一個交易達人。這就是他喜歡的樣子，鬼才的交易手法。他喜歡能讓他能發揮影響力的自由貿易協定”

Menon表示，被川普針對的國家可能會推動新的貿易協議，而不是報復性的關稅升級，這可能會對自身和全球經濟造成傷害。而川普並非所有的舉動都打算強化保護主義，他也計劃終結拜登政府對美國製造電動車的補助。

[[東南亞事務專家Jayant Menon]]
“他在Podcast主持人Joe Rogan的節目中，已經稱呼他們為愚蠢，所以他可能會撤銷這些補貼。從全球經濟扭曲的角度來講，這是一種積極的態度”

變幻莫測的美國總統即將回歸，各國都在尋找應對方案，試圖趨吉避凶。

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