Trade war between Ms.Hillary and Mr.Trump,US Presidential elections 2016, US Presidential polls, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, trade war

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced a 7-point protectionist plan of action to “bring back jobs” to America, which his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton said was a copy of her plans.

The divide between Mr. Trump and Ms. Clinton on trade appears increasingly fuzzy.

Ms. Clinton sought to draw the line. “There’s a difference between getting tough on trade, and recklessly starting trade wars. The last time we opted for Trump-style isolationism, it made the Great Depression longer and more painful,” a release from by the Clinton campaign quoted her as saying. However, in a point-by-point response to the Trump plan, her campaign argued “they were ideas that seem to have moved straight from Hillary Clinton’s policy fact sheets to his teleprompter.”

Mr. Trump announced seven steps he would “pursue right away to bring back our jobs.” Under Mr. Trump, America will withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and will appoint the “toughest and smartest trade negotiators.” As president, he would direct the secretary of commerce to identify “every violation of trade agreements “a foreign country is using to harm the American worker.” The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will be renegotiated; China will be named a “currency manipulator;” the US Trade Representative (USTR) will bring cases against China in WTO and in the USA on subsidy issues. “If China does not stop its illegal activities, including its theft of American trade secrets, I will use every lawful presidential power to remedy trade disputes,” Mr. Trump said, promising “tariffs and taxes,” as punitive measures.

The Clinton response said all these — or similar — measures were promised by her earlier, and she would pursue them as president. The point of contention is who will do it more efficiently and honestly, and whose track record inspires more confidence.

src:thehindu