Trump is making costly mistakes when it comes to China trade

President Donald Trump is igniting a trade war with China predicated on a host of misunderstandings and wrongheaded assumptions.

Trump does not seem to understand that international trade benefits everyone. He ignores the fact that a burgeoning wave of international trade has helped to catapult the U.S. into economic prosperity (the 2008 financial crisis notwithstanding). Second, he views the notion that a trade deficit, rather than signaling U.S. economic strength, is an indicator of how unfairly our country has been taken advantage of by China. Even in the face of very few foreign relation “wins,” he believes that his personal charisma and chemistry with autocrats can move them to do our bidding, even when it may be antithetical to their geopolitical self-interests. Trump is also under the false impression that our current robust economy gives the U.S. leverage over a China that is heavily trade and export dependent.

Trump’s long-term perspective ends on Nov. 3, 2020. China, a civilization that is thousands of years old, takes a truly long-term view that spans many decades or more.

Finally, for Trump every metric is counted in dollars. He doesn’t get that for the Chinese, their sovereignty, their dignity and their need to “save face” may be more compelling than any short-term economic pain.

The U.S. and China are on a collision course that may end in a costly trade war that is devastating for both sides. China has the the fortitude to outlast us. Ken Derow

Swarthmore, Pa. WANT TO COMMENT? Have Your Say at letters@usatoday.com, @usatodayopinion on Twitter and facbook.com/usatodayopinion. Comments are edited for length and clarity. Content submitted to USA TODAY may appear in print, digital or other forms. For letters, include name, address and phone number. Letters may be mailed to 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22108.