Trump won't call China a currency manipulator, praises Yellen and Exp-Im-Bank

[The_Doctor]

Trump's rapid surrender to the traditional Republican positions is an amazing sight to behold. But again what choice do his alt right supporters have? They have to swallow Trump being a traditional neoliberal Republican president outside immigration and a Muslim ban. At the end of the day Trump will also attempt a Gang of Eight immigration deal by 2018. Electoral politics mandate it. And again his supporters have no real choice but to stomach it.

Trump also endorsed the Export-Import Bank and his business backers want the free trade regime to continue with China. That's the main reason and the North Korean deal is a secondary one. He needs the financial support of the donors and the small business Republicans. There's a reason he linked the two topics together in the same interview - he's telegraphing that he's going to be a big business Republican.

Yes the alt right was conned by a master con man. The tears are awesome to watch.

[The_Doctor]

Trumpy is also changing his tune because the alt right isn't a serious populist or ideological movement with a developed ideology and a record of fighting for it. The alt right is literally a feeling, not a serious political movement. As a result Trumpy can basically use and abuse the ideology as he sees fit. He holds the cards, not the movement.

The long established neoliberal Republican ideology has a more powerful following and a longer track record and more respectable and influential supporters. Trump's gonna go with the reigning Republican ideology 99/100 times.

The apostasies will continue.

[The_Doctor]

Soon....Trump will say he's open to TPP

Just wait

Obviously, man. It benefits who the most? The big business community. Who do they support? Republicans. Small businesses love it too. What do Republicans care about? The support of the donor class and small businesses. Who traditionally back the Republicans.

[The_Doctor]

Obviously, man. It benefits who the most? The big business community. Who do they support? Republicans. Small businesses love it too. What do Republicans care about? The support of the donor class and small businesses. Who traditionally back the Republicans.

Small businesses love TPP? The average small business doesn't source from or sell to Vietnam or Malaysia in material amounts. In fact, you could actually say the same about most large businesses.

A considerable sum probably get their supply chain from overseas, where reduced tariffs and so on would help them. That's the point behind free trade and deals like NAFTA and so on.

The supply chains we see for materials and goods are global meaning structured free trade deals are actually a key component of our growth.

anyway, my point about the business community backing the deal stands. They were among the loudest supporters of the deal under Obama.

[The_Doctor]

A considerable sum probably get their supply chain from overseas, where reduced tariffs and so on would help them. That's the point behind free trade and deals like NAFTA and so on.

The supply chains we see for materials and goods are global meaning structured free trade deals are actually a key component of our growth.

Most modern trade deals are not about tariffs, and are mostly about foreign investment and dispute resolution. The US already has generally low tariffs, and the majority of businesses, large or small, do not source from TPP countries in material amounts, and if they do, the portion of their costs they are most concerned about is freight, not tariffs. The only companies that regularly deal with tariffs are those with manufacturing plants overseas and import/distribution firms. Even then, we are only talking about the lowest value products being produced in these countries, like coffee, rubber, and textiles.

High-value proprietary imports like tools, machine parts, and chemicals are usually sourced from Japan, Germany, or other European countries. (I do realize that Japan is in the TPP, but nobody is pretending that TPP is about US/Japan trade) Most businesses are not really affected by TPP either way, and the ones who are strongly in favor of it are multinationals who want the investment opportunities, dispute resolution mechanisms, mutual standards, and perhaps lower input costs.

I'm surprised at this non-trolling post. So I'll respond in seriousness.

I'd like to apologize for being flippant and firing off a series of comments without thinking. In a sense, I was riling up people a bit for fun and that was a little off. I'd take back my comments that Trump will revive TPP. I've long said his anti-free trade stance is one of his most consistent beliefs and one of the big ones that tie him to his alt-right base. So I'm going to stand by that rather than my comments in this thread.

Re your points ...

I understand that yes, we are a low tariff nation. But as I understand it, we would also be doing a free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, which would mean lower tariffs with goods from Australia, a developed nation that could give us as you said, "High-value proprietary imports like tools, machine parts, and chemicals." Unless we have separate treaties, there's one reason TPP would benefit us.

I'd be inclined to agree with the rest of your post. That's probably a good argument about who is in favor and who isn't. I've been looking up who voiced support and one group was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  I ran across this article and this article. It sees you might have a point on that part.

I'll stand by the rest of my comments, but not the small business support for TPP.