| This only can work for that part of the world that is a big enough trading partner. Nb: Another essay at the site is titled “ How the US blackmails the EU ”. So apparently it goes both ways, even if we don’t hate them. |
[EuroIntelligence] After the Trump administration threatened tariffs on German cars over Iran, it is now China that makes the same threat in respect of Huawei. The world has discovered that Germany, and by extension the EU, is vulnerable to mercantilist threats. This is what happens when trade surpluses are not merely occurring but they are an essential part of your overall economic strategy.
It's about goddamned time. Germany has been ripping us off in trade for decades, and laughing all the way to the bank. It's about time we started to put the hurt on those ungrateful, America-hating squareheads.
| Put the hurt on them, and they’ll take their trade elsewhere. I’m not nearly as concerned about trade as I am about all of Europe having enough bullets for their guns and spare parts for their vehicles. It does no good to produce doughty special forces soldiers if they haven’t enough bullets to practice their target shooting, nor enough working vehicles to drive from the barracks to the practice field. |
The New York Times quotes a member of the digital affairs committee of the Bundestag as saying that the Chinese have made it clear in private conversations with German officials that they will retaliate where it hurts - against the car industry. Earlier China's ambassador to Germany also warned that there would be consequences, but without spelling them out. The privately-issued threat seems to have become a prime tool in international diplomacy. The Washington Post reported this week that the US administration had threatened EU officials that Washington would impose car tariffs unless the EU agreed to trigger the arbitration procedure in the Iran nuclear deal.
Good. Not that I approve of meddling with Iran, but that we're finally getting our way. Supposedly this ruinously expensive financial support of Germany and the rest of Europe bought us leverage - but I ain't seen shit. All they do is gainsay everything we do. Fuck 'em.
Angela Merkel is, as ever, leading from behind. The decision is ultimately up to the Bundestag. There is strong opposition to Huawei from the pro-Atlanticist lobby in the CDU, most notably from Norbert Rottgen, head of the foreign affairs committee. One of the US arguments against Huawei’s German bid is that car companies will in the future carry lots of personal data from drivers, and Germany would effectively make these data available to the Chinese communist party. |