The more moderate Democrats were more cautious in their attacks on Mr. Trump’s stewardship of the economy, largely taking issue with sluggish income growth and what they called the unfairness of the tax code while criticizing his methods on trade.
John Hickenlooper, the former governor of Colorado, outlined a give-peace-a-chance approach with China, arguing that “trade wars are for losers” and that the dispute with China cannot be won with tariffs, which he described as a tax on the middle class.
“There is a way of looking at trade that is therapeutic,” Mr. Hickenlooper said.
Despite the strength of the economy, some economists argue that it has thrived in spite of Mr. Trump’s agenda. The trade tensions caused by his tariffs are widely acknowledged to have been a drag on economic growth. The federal budget deficit has increased an average of 15 percent for each fiscal year he has been in office.
Moreover, Mr. Trump’s handling of trade negotiations has called into question his deal-making prowess. The overhaul of Nafta is languishing in Congress, where it must be ratified. A new trade war with Europe is brewing over digital taxes. Negotiations with China, which resumed this week in Shanghai, appear to be making little progress.
Mr. Trump blames Democrats for many of his trade challenges. Ahead of the debate on Tuesday, the president said countries like China were rooting for one of his would-be successors to replace him so they could get better trade deals with someone else in the White House.
“I think if China had their wish, they’d wait until after the election, they’ll pray that Trump loses, and then they’ll make a deal with a stiff,” Mr. Trump said.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/us/politics/democrats-debate-trade-china-economy.html?emc=rss&partner=rss
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