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Thank you for joining us.
Thank you for joining us
I'm glad that we chose this seating
I'm glad that we chose this seating
arrangement because you're-- how tall are you?
arrangement because you're- how tall are you
Very tall.
Very tall
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Yeah that's what I thought
When you came out at first, I thought,
When you came out at first I thought
I bet this gentleman can dunk.
I bet this gentleman can dunk
All right.
All right
That's how I said it.
That's how I said it
How to Win a Trade War.
How to Win a Trade War
Boy, this would come in handy if we found
Boy this would come in handy if we found
ourselves in a trade war.
ourselves in a trade war
Are we in a trade war?
Are we in a trade war
Yeah.
Yeah
We are in a trade war?
We are in a trade war
With everyone?
With everyone
Yeah.
Yeah
Whole world?
Whole world
Are we winning?
Are we winning
Oh boy.
Oh boy
What?
What
How would we know?
How would we know
Oh boy.
Oh boy
Are we winning against anybody?
Are we winning against anybody
Is Belgium-- are we beating Belgium?
Is Belgium- are we beating Belgium
So.
So
I feel like the two doctors try
I feel like the two doctors try
not to break bad news to me.
not to break bad news to me
So we are-- the trade war.
So we are- the trade war
Let's be clear.
Let's be clear
We launched the trade war.
We launched the trade war
Correct?
Correct
Yes.
Yes
Liberation day launched the trade war?
Liberation day launched the trade war
Yes.
Yes
You can speak more than one word.
You can speak more than one word
OK OK.
OK OK
So yes.
So yes
So just over a year ago, Donald Trump
So just over a year ago Donald Trump
decided to ignore the most basic military strategy
decided to ignore the most basic military strategy
and fight a war on all the fronts at the same time.
and fight a war on all the fronts at the same time
He launched a trade war against everybody.
He launched a trade war against everybody
Everybody everybody.
Everybody everybody
And yeah, there is a reason you're not supposed to do that.
And yeah there is a reason you're not supposed to do that
Would that be in here?
Would that be in here
Maybe maybe.
Maybe maybe
And so stepping back, right?
And so stepping back right
The problem in the global economy--
The problem in the global economy-
there is a real trade problem in the global economy,
there is a real trade problem in the global economy
and it's to do with the relationship with China.
and it's to do with the relationship with China
And that is a significant issue.
And that is a significant issue
And what would have been good is to work with
And what would have been good is to work with
allies because--
allies because-
I'm sorry, what was the last part?
I'm sorry what was the last part
Because when you fight a war on all the fronts,
Because when you fight a war on all the fronts
that means your allies are also fighting
that means your allies are also fighting
a war on all of the fronts.
a war on all of the fronts
So suddenly, Europe was going to try
So suddenly Europe was going to try
to deal with the China issue, but
to deal with the China issue but
now it's having to also deal with the US issue
now it's having to also deal with the US issue
at the same time.
at the same time
What would the metrics be of a--
What would the metrics be of a-
so how do we even judge whether or not--
so how do we even judge whether or not-
so we understand the strategy should
so we understand the strategy should
not have been to fire on our allies as well as our rivals.
not have been to fire on our allies as well as our rivals
What are the metrics of a trade war?
What are the metrics of a trade war
How do we judge it?
How do we judge it
I think the most important one
I think the most important one
is, can you do what you want?
is can you do what you want
Or are you being constrained by your vulnerabilities to not
Or are you being constrained by your vulnerabilities to not
be able to do what you want?
be able to do what you want
I think that's the biggest key to show
I think that's the biggest key to show
how we're losing right now.
how we're losing right now
When we say, can we do what we want, we mean,
When we say can we do what we want we mean
can we sell our products where we
can we sell our products where we
want to sell them for the price we would like to sell them at?
want to sell them for the price we would like to sell them at
That could be part of it.
That could be part of it
It could be that we want to impose policies.
It could be that we want to impose policies
Maybe we're worried about certain countries
Maybe we're worried about certain countries
out there that rhyme with Schmina.
out there that rhyme with Schmina
I had a different rhyme earlier, but yours works, too.
I had a different rhyme earlier but yours works too
And maybe you want to do things like tariffs or export
And maybe you want to do things like tariffs or export
restrictions or be a little tough on certain issues,
restrictions or be a little tough on certain issues
but you can't because you're worried
but you can't because you're worried
about them standing up to you in a way
about them standing up to you in a way
that you're really vulnerable.
that you're really vulnerable
And that's where we found ourselves last year.
And that's where we found ourselves last year
China has figured out how to play a trade war,
China has figured out how to play a trade war
how to at least win a trade war at the moment.
how to at least win a trade war at the moment
And that's because we're vulnerable to a lot of things
And that's because we're vulnerable to a lot of things
we need for our economy to work that, really,
we need for our economy to work that really
China is the only one out there that makes right now.
China is the only one out there that makes right now
How are we vulnerable?
How are we vulnerable
What is it that China does that makes us vulnerable?
What is it that China does that makes us vulnerable
They mine, process, manufacture into magnets
They mine process manufacture into magnets
something called rare earths.
something called rare earths
Yes
Yes
So they go into cars and to defense systems.
So they go into cars and to defense systems
Electronics.
Electronics
Electronics.
Electronics
I never thought I would know so much about rare earths supply
I never thought I would know so much about rare earths supply
chains, but here we are.
chains but here we are
And essentially, China has been copying what the US
And essentially China has been copying what the US
has been doing, I think.
has been doing I think
Because the US has been restricting
Because the US has been restricting
exports to China for a while.
exports to China for a while
And so the Chinese just looked at what the US was doing
And so the Chinese just looked at what the US was doing
and said, OK, we can do that, too.
and said OK we can do that too
So we do strategic restrictions.
So we do strategic restrictions
And you talk about this in the book, strategic restrictions
And you talk about this in the book strategic restrictions
on exports, meaning the one advantage we have is our chips
on exports meaning the one advantage we have is our chips
are apparently second to none.
are apparently second to none
We're apparently two to three months ahead of everybody
We're apparently two to three months ahead of everybody
else when it comes to chips.
else when it comes to chips
So we restrict that from going directly to China.
So we restrict that from going directly to China
That's our leverage.
That's our leverage
And the equipment that is used to make the chips.
And the equipment that is used to make the chips
But we don't do that.
But we don't do that
That's done in Taiwan, is it not?
That's done in Taiwan is it not
So we do some of it.
So we do some of it
We also work with allies, so Japan and the Netherlands.
We also work with allies so Japan and the Netherlands
The Netherlands actually does the fanciest pieces
The Netherlands actually does the fanciest pieces
of these equipment.
of these equipment
We work with their government to say, hey, let's
We work with their government to say hey let's
not send that stuff to China.
not send that stuff to China
What is it?
What is it
Is that the part where they frost the thing?
Is that the part where they frost the thing
Yeah yeah.
Yeah yeah
You stick your finger in it.
You stick your finger in it
Yeah, that works.
Yeah that works
Exactly yeah.
Exactly yeah
Nice.
Nice
But yeah, so we have been doing that kind of thing,
But yeah so we have been doing that kind of thing
but for military purposes.
but for military purposes
We're really worried about China getting
We're really worried about China getting
hold of these super fancy chips because it would enhance
hold of these super fancy chips because it would enhance
their military capabilities, and
their military capabilities and
that's why we didn't want to send it to them.
that's why we didn't want to send it to them
China is doing something that's very different-- not sending
China is doing something that's very different- not sending
us these rare earths is--
us these rare earths is-
But they did that in response.
But they did that in response
Yes, they did it in response.
Yes they did it in response
They were not doing it prior to this.
They were not doing it prior to this
Well, they have done it in the past.
Well they have done it in the past
They did this back, actually, in 2010
They did this back actually in 2010
when they got mad at Japan for something at the time.
when they got mad at Japan for something at the time
But didn't Japan at that point
But didn't Japan at that point
get themselves a backlog, a stockpile of rare earths
get themselves a backlog a stockpile of rare earths
in preparation for this type of thing?
in preparation for this type of thing
Did we do that before launching this trade war?
Did we do that before launching this trade war
Son of a-- is that in the book?
Son of a- is that in the book
Yeah, Japan got hit early, and they prepared.
Yeah Japan got hit early and they prepared
And so they acted in a very extreme way
And so they acted in a very extreme way
to reduce their reliance on China.
to reduce their reliance on China
They were ahead of the game.
They were ahead of the game
And then when China did it to everyone else last year,
And then when China did it to everyone else last year
everyone else was looking to Japan to say, oh,
everyone else was looking to Japan to say oh
well, why didn't we do that?
well why didn't we do that
So you're saying, if I may paraphrase,
So you're saying if I may paraphrase
we launched a trade war rashly, too broadly,
we launched a trade war rashly too broadly
without proper preparation and now
without proper preparation and now
find ourselves mired in an event
find ourselves mired in an event
that we are are now losing.
that we are are now losing
This is just so out of character
This is just so out of character
for this administration that I don't know what got into them.
for this administration that I don't know what got into them
It's almost like trade wars are like real wars.
It's almost like trade wars are like real wars
Logistics win real wars.
Logistics win real wars
You need to--
You need to-
Well, thank God we haven't launched one of those.
Well thank God we haven't launched one of those
Let me ask you a question.
Let me ask you a question
When you talk about it as being like a real war,
When you talk about it as being like a real war
do they wargame--
do they wargame-
I understand that they would say, like, if you attack Iran,
I understand that they would say like if you attack Iran
we wargame it.
we wargame it
And most times, they close the Strait of Hormuz,
And most times they close the Strait of Hormuz
and that's known.
and that's known
Do they wargame trade wars?
Do they wargame trade wars
Who's they?
Who's they
The Illuminati?
The Illuminati
I don't know.
I don't know
You're the economist.
You're the economist
Yes, so some governments absolutely are doing this.
Yes so some governments absolutely are doing this
And so I think-- - They plan it.
And so I think- They plan it
They plan it.
They plan it
What might happen?
What might happen
And not all of it's just the fear
And not all of it's just the fear
of trade war and real wars.
of trade war and real wars
I think we learned a lot of lessons
I think we learned a lot of lessons
during the pandemic, when we ran short of products,
during the pandemic when we ran short of products
and we suddenly became very worried about supply
and we suddenly became very worried about supply
chain vulnerabilities.
chain vulnerabilities
We couldn't get access to toilet paper initially,
We couldn't get access to toilet paper initially
but then it became things like semiconductors.
but then it became things like semiconductors
And all of a sudden, governments
And all of a sudden governments
all around the world started to look
all around the world started to look
more closely at where they were getting some
more closely at where they were getting some
of these essential goods from.
of these essential goods from
And they did really sophisticated data
And they did really sophisticated data
analytic exercises to try to figure it out.
analytic exercises to try to figure it out
And then many of them have done wargaming exercises
And then many of them have done wargaming exercises
to try to figure out how to minimize a lot
to try to figure out how to minimize a lot
of those vulnerabilities.
of those vulnerabilities
I'm not so sure that was the approach
I'm not so sure that was the approach
that this administration took when they came in last January.
that this administration took when they came in last January
You're not so sure?
You're not so sure
So the idea, though, is a country
So the idea though is a country
is looking to assess its vulnerabilities,
is looking to assess its vulnerabilities
assess its strengths, and shore up those vulnerabilities
assess its strengths and shore up those vulnerabilities
to create resilience.
to create resilience
Now, what we've been told is the reason
Now what we've been told is the reason
we launched this trade war is to reverse
we launched this trade war is to reverse
the years of hollowing out manufacturing,
the years of hollowing out manufacturing
but that sounds backwards to me.
but that sounds backwards to me
Wouldn't you use other methodologies
Wouldn't you use other methodologies
to increase manufacturing before launching
to increase manufacturing before launching
a trade war so that you would be more resilient in that war?
a trade war so that you would be more resilient in that war
Yeah, it's a good point.
Yeah it's a good point
So more positively, I think you have a future
So more positively I think you have a future
ahead of you in policy.
ahead of you in policy
In trade wars.
In trade wars
I can launch a trade war.
I can launch a trade war
Let me ask you this.
Let me ask you this
So we talk about this, and it's very
So we talk about this and it's very
interesting because the analogy is launching a real war.
interesting because the analogy is launching a real war
And we talk about this really as a form of nationalism.
And we talk about this really as a form of nationalism
Where do corporations fit into the playing
Where do corporations fit into the playing
field in trade wars?
field in trade wars
Because we're talking, you're going after China,
Because we're talking you're going after China
you're going after the Netherlands,
you're going after the Netherlands
you're going after the EU.
you're going after the EU
Multinational corporations have no allegiance.
Multinational corporations have no allegiance
Who are they in all this?
Who are they in all this
So I think multinationals are the soldiers in the trade war.
So I think multinationals are the soldiers in the trade war
The governments make the policy.
The governments make the policy
They're the commanders, and then the companies are the ones
They're the commanders and then the companies are the ones
actually implementing it.
actually implementing it
And so if we think back to those vulnerabilities,
And so if we think back to those vulnerabilities
ultimately, those are the product of companies
ultimately those are the product of companies
responding to incentives.
responding to incentives
For years, it was cheap, it was efficient to buy
For years it was cheap it was efficient to buy
your components from China.
your components from China
That was where all the other manufacturing was.
That was where all the other manufacturing was
And policymakers encouraged them.
And policymakers encouraged them
And now, what we're seeing is the result
And now what we're seeing is the result
of those companies responding to those incentives and saying,
of those companies responding to those incentives and saying
oh wait what?
oh wait what
The Chinese can suddenly cut us off?
The Chinese can suddenly cut us off
It's also US car companies that are sourcing, from China,
It's also US car companies that are sourcing from China
all those rare earths.
all those rare earths
Are we in a position-- because you
Are we in a position- because you
said that they're the soldiers in our war.
said that they're the soldiers in our war
It almost appears to me that they're actually
It almost appears to me that they're actually
the soldiers that started the war,
the soldiers that started the war
because globalization and the introduction of China
because globalization and the introduction of China
into the WTO and all that--
into the WTO and all that-
capital travels, but labor can't.
capital travels but labor can't
So when these companies, which are built in Silicon Valley
So when these companies which are built in Silicon Valley
or wherever it is, using the infrastructure
or wherever it is using the infrastructure
of the United States--
of the United States-
Silicon Valley doesn't exist without taxpayer
Silicon Valley doesn't exist without taxpayer
funding and government resources, any of those things.
funding and government resources any of those things
We built them.
We built them
And then they could just go, [BLEEP] these guys.
And then they could just go BLEEP these guys
We're going to where we don't have to pay our workers
We're going to where we don't have to pay our workers
anything, and we get to do everything,
anything and we get to do everything
and we can hollow out the very country that made us possible.
and we can hollow out the very country that made us possible
And now we've got to fight a trade
And now we've got to fight a trade
war to beg them to come back?
war to beg them to come back
China would never put up with that, would they?
China would never put up with that would they
No.
No
[LAUGHTER]
LAUGHTER
Not to go into Jeremiah, but I
Not to go into Jeremiah but I
don't understand how they're allowed
don't understand how they're allowed
to get us into this mess, and then we've got to figure
to get us into this mess and then we've got to figure
out a way to get out of it.
out a way to get out of it
So there's a couple things there.
So there's a couple things there
One, I think China has very different relationships
One I think China has very different relationships
with its companies than we do.
with its companies than we do
And I think one of the--
And I think one of the-
agree.
agree
The way we should think about companies these days
The way we should think about companies these days
is they're really not American companies.
is they're really not American companies
They're multinationals.
They're multinationals
They're themselves.
They're themselves
They're their own entities, and we can't expect them,
They're their own entities and we can't expect them
as Soumaya put it, to fight our battles for us, unless you
as Soumaya put it to fight our battles for us unless you
incentivize them to, unless you create the right regulations
incentivize them to unless you create the right regulations
to force them to behave in certain ways,
to force them to behave in certain ways
they're just gonna act in their own interests.
they're just gonna act in their own interests
And if that means going where workers are cheaper,
And if that means going where workers are cheaper
that's what they're gonna do, and that's where
that's what they're gonna do and that's where
they're gonna make things.
they're gonna make things
Now, there are some benefits to that though, too, right?
Now there are some benefits to that though too right
We actually do get, through international trade,
We actually do get through international trade
access to much cheaper products than we would otherwise.
access to much cheaper products than we would otherwise
And I think we've seen today, with inflation,
And I think we've seen today with inflation
people like it when prices are lower
people like it when prices are lower
than when prices are higher.
than when prices are higher
So there are lots of benefits from trade that we don't
So there are lots of benefits from trade that we don't
completely want to eliminate.
completely want to eliminate
But I think we do need to recognize that that
But I think we do need to recognize that that
does sometimes come with costs, and
does sometimes come with costs and
especially costs for workers.
especially costs for workers
And that has to be something that's dealt with as well.
And that has to be something that's dealt with as well
Why, then, are governments incentivized
Why then are governments incentivized
to always ways lubricate the way for corporations
to always ways lubricate the way for corporations
but not workers?
but not workers
Why are workers just always the inevitable victims
Why are workers just always the inevitable victims
of all of these shenanigans?
of all of these shenanigans
It's hard to understand that the government
It's hard to understand that the government
wouldn't put some limitations.
wouldn't put some limitations
If you want access to our infrastructure,
If you want access to our infrastructure
you can't just screw over our workers because it's easier.
you can't just screw over our workers because it's easier
Yeah.
Yeah
[LAUGHTER]
LAUGHTER
Part of it, I think, is the political process.
Part of it I think is the political process
In Washington, it's much easier for the big companies
In Washington it's much easier for the big companies
to organize and lobby and get the policies that they want,
to organize and lobby and get the policies that they want
and it's much more difficult for workers
and it's much more difficult for workers
to do the same thing.
to do the same thing
JON STEWART: So they're not soldiers.
JON STEWART: So they're not soldiers
They're mercenaries.
They're mercenaries
They're Blackwater.
They're Blackwater
They're not soldiers, because soldiers
They're not soldiers because soldiers
take an oath to the nation that birthed them, and they don't.
take an oath to the nation that birthed them and they don't
So how, in a trade war--
So how in a trade war-
because how does it figure in, in a trade war,
because how does it figure in in a trade war
that we can come to a better understanding
that we can come to a better understanding
with these corporations of what our expectations are for them.
with these corporations of what our expectations are for them
So I think what the Trump administration
So I think what the Trump administration
is trying to do is, it's trying to reset that bargain, right?
is trying to do is it's trying to reset that bargain right
So it's saying, if you want to serve US customers,
So it's saying if you want to serve US customers
then you've got to operate in the US.
then you've got to operate in the US
And it's trying to do that with its trade tools.
And it's trying to do that with its trade tools
And I think the tricky reality is
And I think the tricky reality is
that it's extremely hard to force these mercenary companies
that it's extremely hard to force these mercenary companies
to do that.
to do that
And so the risk is that you end up essentially taxing imports,
And so the risk is that you end up essentially taxing imports
so you put up tariffs, you make it harder for companies
so you put up tariffs you make it harder for companies
to get stuff from overseas.
to get stuff from overseas
And what those companies do is, they don't reshore.
And what those companies do is they don't reshore
They just do less of everything.
They just do less of everything
It can be really, really--
It can be really really-
the problem that you identify is real.
the problem that you identify is real
The challenge is getting that trade war
The challenge is getting that trade war
then to solve that problem.
then to solve that problem
That link isn't--
That link isn't-
Well yeah.
Well yeah
No, that's exactly it.
No that's exactly it
Because it seems to me that, well,
Because it seems to me that well
now we're going after China and the EU,
now we're going after China and the EU
but we're still not addressing the elephant
but we're still not addressing the elephant
in the room, which is these free agent mercenaries.
in the room which is these free agent mercenaries
So let me ask you this, if this is reasonable.
So let me ask you this if this is reasonable
There's a lot of times that someone might say, all right,
There's a lot of times that someone might say all right
we'll pay for your college, but you
we'll pay for your college but you
have to give us four years of service
have to give us four years of service
as a teacher in these certain districts.
as a teacher in these certain districts
It's a way for us to get the people
It's a way for us to get the people
that we need, to give them something,
that we need to give them something
but to expect something in return.
but to expect something in return
Is that the type of arrangement that
Is that the type of arrangement that
can be done for the tax money and infrastructure
can be done for the tax money and infrastructure
that we use to build these companies?
that we use to build these companies
Yeah.
Yeah
I was just gonna say, there are things
I was just gonna say there are things
that I think we can do to treat corporations differently,
that I think we can do to treat corporations differently
but it's not through tariffs, right?
but it's not through tariffs right
So I think--
So I think-
JON STEWART: Not through trade wars.
JON STEWART: Not through trade wars
Not through trade wars.
Not through trade wars
JON STEWART: This is not a good way to do it.
JON STEWART: This is not a good way to do it
No.
No
I mean, there's been efforts over the last 10 years
I mean there's been efforts over the last 10 years
to try to get global corporations to not
to try to get global corporations to not
be tax evaders, to not go to tax haven countries,
be tax evaders to not go to tax haven countries
to have them pay minimum taxes somewhere in the world.
to have them pay minimum taxes somewhere in the world
I think that's a more effective strategy,
I think that's a more effective strategy
trying to get these companies to behave and
trying to get these companies to behave and
be better global corporate citizens
be better global corporate citizens
than just whacking them with tariffs.
than just whacking them with tariffs
Because with tariffs come all the bad things.
Because with tariffs come all the bad things
Best-case scenario, maybe they do
Best-case scenario maybe they do
bring some of that production back to The United States.
bring some of that production back to The United States
We get more manufacturing here.
We get more manufacturing here
But because we've made it so expensive because of tariffs
But because we've made it so expensive because of tariffs
for them to do so, they can't hire any workers,
for them to do so they can't hire any workers
and they just have to do it all with robots.
and they just have to do it all with robots
And at the end of the day, how does that
And at the end of the day how does that
really help us, if we're really worried
really help us if we're really worried
about the American worker?
about the American worker
You bring something up in the book
You bring something up in the book
that I thought was really interesting
that I thought was really interesting
about wage insurance.
about wage insurance
Because my concern is that there
Because my concern is that there
are casualties in trade wars that are the multinationals.
are casualties in trade wars that are the multinationals
He's cutting deals with Apple and Intel
He's cutting deals with Apple and Intel
and NVIDIA and all these big players,
and NVIDIA and all these big players
but the people that are suffering
but the people that are suffering
are the small businesses in America, the people that
are the small businesses in America the people that
don't like uncertainty and can't adjust their business
don't like uncertainty and can't adjust their business
practices to all these fluctuating tariffs and all
practices to all these fluctuating tariffs and all
these other changing things.
these other changing things
But there's a program you mentioned called
But there's a program you mentioned called
wage insurance, and it's generally done--
wage insurance and it's generally done-
and correct me if I'm wrong.
and correct me if I'm wrong
If you lose a job in manufacturing
If you lose a job in manufacturing
because it was globalized and you get another job that
because it was globalized and you get another job that
isn't paying as well, the government provides you
isn't paying as well the government provides you
the money up to that level.
the money up to that level
Is that correct?
Is that correct
Yeah.
Yeah
I think it's a certain share of the difference, basically.
I think it's a certain share of the difference basically
So they're cushioning that blow.
So they're cushioning that blow
So you if you've just lost your job,
So you if you've just lost your job
that means that you have some help.
that means that you have some help
You've got a cushion, and so your income doesn't fall.
You've got a cushion and so your income doesn't fall
You're also encouraged to get a new job.
You're also encouraged to get a new job
Maybe you switch to a new industry,
Maybe you switch to a new industry
something that isn't so vulnerable toward
something that isn't so vulnerable toward
those globalization forces.
those globalization forces
And the evidence that we have suggests that it actually
And the evidence that we have suggests that it actually
can pay for itself, which is kind of never
can pay for itself which is kind of never
heard of in economic policies.
heard of in economic policies
So I think over the last couple of decades,
So I think over the last couple of decades
economists have really beaten themselves
economists have really beaten themselves
up about helping the people who are
up about helping the people who are
left behind by globalization.
left behind by globalization
And because trade tools are so bad at helping the worker,
And because trade tools are so bad at helping the worker
really, what you need is better worker
really what you need is better worker
protections, including potentially
protections including potentially
programs like that one.
programs like that one
JON STEWART: Right.
JON STEWART: Right
So let me ask you a question, which brings up the point,
So let me ask you a question which brings up the point
what if we use that preemptively in our war?
what if we use that preemptively in our war
So rather than wage insurance to help people
So rather than wage insurance to help people
in areas that have been hollowed out by globalization,
in areas that have been hollowed out by globalization
use wage insurance to go to those companies who
use wage insurance to go to those companies who
were going to go overseas and say,
were going to go overseas and say
we will make up at least most of the difference
we will make up at least most of the difference
between what you would pay your workers in China
between what you would pay your workers in China
and what you would pay them in Kentucky?
and what you would pay them in Kentucky
And we do that preemptively, so those communities never
And we do that preemptively so those communities never
get hollowed out in the first place.
get hollowed out in the first place
Could that be part of an industry and industrial policy
Could that be part of an industry and industrial policy
that actually-- rather than how to win a trade
that actually- rather than how to win a trade
war, a book on the next book, the sequel,
war a book on the next book the sequel
how to survive a trade war, would
how to survive a trade war would
that be a possible solution?
that be a possible solution
100%.
100
There's there's so much more that we
There's there's so much more that we
can do in terms of adjusting the tax code to make it more
can do in terms of adjusting the tax code to make it more
beneficial for companies to hire workers and not
beneficial for companies to hire workers and not
have to pay sort of extraordinary taxes
have to pay sort of extraordinary taxes
and other burdens and things like that.
and other burdens and things like that
And I think that's really what the emphasis should be on.
And I think that's really what the emphasis should be on
How does this wind down?
How does this wind down
How do we find our way out of this?
How do we find our way out of this
Do you have an idea?
Do you have an idea
Have you seen this play out before?
Have you seen this play out before
[SIGHS] So--
SIGHS So-
There's a lot of spying going on now.
There's a lot of spying going on now
Yeah yeah.
Yeah yeah
Well, I've got a confession.
Well I've got a confession
So it's an optimistic guide.
So it's an optimistic guide
And you know--
And you know-
What?
What
Well, we go through some scenarios for how we could
Well we go through some scenarios for how we could
get ourselves out of this.
get ourselves out of this
And my confession is that a lot of the happy, sunlit uplands
And my confession is that a lot of the happy sunlit uplands
are quite a long way in the future.
are quite a long way in the future
JON STEWART: There's a lot of 2050 in this.
JON STEWART: There's a lot of 2050 in this
Yeah, there's a lot of 2050.
Yeah there's a lot of 2050
And so right now, I think we're a bit worried
And so right now I think we're a bit worried
that things are gonna have to get
that things are gonna have to get
worse before they get better.
worse before they get better
But eventually, it really should be possible for us
But eventually it really should be possible for us
all to come together and stop brandishing
all to come together and stop brandishing
all these trade weapons.
all these trade weapons
Look, this is optimistic.
Look this is optimistic
No, this is very-- yeah
No this is very- yeah
Yeah.
Yeah
Eventually, we should be able to get together and
Eventually we should be able to get together and
do something that's mutually beneficial,
do something that's mutually beneficial
so we can escape the chaos.
so we can escape the chaos
JON STEWART: Chad?
JON STEWART: Chad
This is not going away.
This is not going away
[LAUGHS]
LAUGHS
You were just talking--
You were just talking-
Have you guys talked to each other about this?
Have you guys talked to each other about this
Yeah.
Yeah
I'm the optimistic one in the book, actually.
I'm the optimistic one in the book actually
She's the pessimist.
She's the pessimist
No, the issue is not going away.
No the issue is not going away
You just gave all this great advice to graduates, right?
You just gave all this great advice to graduates right
Saddle up.
Saddle up
[LAUGHS] Fantastic!
LAUGHS Fantastic
Thank you both very much for coming by.
Thank you both very much for coming by
How to Win a Trade War, May 26.
How to Win a Trade War May 26
Available for pre-order.
Available for pre-order
Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown.
Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown

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