Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

“We make ourselves Poorer, Technologically Backward, and Less Influential”

The goal for China was always to be a global leader. Nothing has changed. My trips to various Chinese facilities building automotive components for US automotive countries, I could see how their technology was evolving. The United States did help them real such heights by sourcing production to their overseas plants. China could copy the […]

China holds some mighty strong cards

In his continuous effort to control the media cycle and distract from the Epstein files, Trump has been threatening China on and off with huge tariffs. But as usual, it looks like it’s bluster. Why? “America has made an unusually directional economic bet that is at this moment totally dependent on Chinese rare earth exports. […]

China warns the Philippines

Bried Commentary: Mainland China warns the Philippines against any interference with their routine patrols. China’s State Council revealed it intends of establishing a nature reserve spanning 3,500 hectares (8,650 acres). The site is the disputed islet of Scarborough Shoal, a contested territory claimed by both China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. More than […]

Make China Great Again

Trump slapped a 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee. Guess that will show them! “China has approved 183 new Brazilian coffee companies to export products to the Chinese market, according to a social media post of the Chinese embassy in Brazil on Saturday. “The measure, a boon to local exporters after the United States government’s announcement […]

China holds a lot more cards than Trump may think . . . Tariffs

Tariffs . . . are a marvelous distraction while Trump hides what he really wants to do. Everybody is looking in the wrong direction, mesmerized by the shiny coin as Trump calls off tariffs for now. Trump does not care about America. He cares about himself and stuffing away $billions. Time to buy on the […]

Tariff is a beautiful word

Trump says “tariff” is a beautiful word. Maybe for him, but not for American companies and consumers. “Walmart thought it could use its immense power as America’s biggest retailer to make Chinese suppliers eat the cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But Walmart got a response it’s not accustomed to hearing: No. “Trump has slapped […]

Trump tariffs: shrinking our way to irrelevance?

In addition to driving down the stock market and driving up inflation, Trump tariffs will drive historical trading partners to shop with China and others outside the US. “While ASEAN and the GCC are unlikely to embrace Beijing to the extent that the Chinese government would like, they will be more receptive to Chinese overtures […]

Two basic problems of a declining population in a Country

From the NYT opinion pages comes Paul Krugman’s description of the two basic problems of a declining population in a country, Dr. Krugman ues China as an example. China’s population declined last year, for the first time since the mass deaths associated with Mao Zedong’s disastrous Great Leap Forward in the 1960s. Or maybe it […]