Trump, going backwards

USA, April 25. - Billionaire Elon Musk, who remains one of Trump's main advisors, had already warned the red president that he had exceeded his tariff policy, fearing mainly for his businesses that depend heavily on trade with China, the main nation attacked.

Thus, Trump has been forced to backtrack and announce that he will substantially reduce his enormous tariffs on the Asian giant. He also had to backtrack, albeit not publicly, and agree with Musk when the latter rebuked the not-so-blond Foreign Minister Marco Rubio because the man of unfortunate Cuban origin had refused to purge the State Department, where departments and personnel are now being eliminated by 20%.

Thus, Trump has been forced to backtrack and announce that he will substantially reduce his enormous tariffs on the Asian giant. He also had to backtrack, not publicly, and agree with Musk when the latter rebuked the not-so-blond Foreign Minister Marco Rubio because the man of unfortunate Cuban origin had refused to purge the State Department, where dependencies and personnel are now being eliminated by 20%.

Musk publicly expressed his disagreement with the policies of the president, whom he helped reach the White House, which led to an unexpected alignment with the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, described as progressive, the opposite of the billionaire.

Surprising alliance, given that Musk has maintained an open confrontation with Newsom for years. It was precisely the governor's state policies that led the billionaire to move his personal and business operations from California to Texas.

The truth is that Trump had (has) weaponized tariffs to a completely irrational level, without considering that in the specific case of China, its economic policy can face any challenge for multiple reasons, plus, as a friend living in Orlando, Florida, told me, the Chinese are used to facing and going through difficulties and all kinds of vicissitudes, but the Americans are not.

PREDICTED FAILURE

Despite his hypocritical phrases of sympathies and friendship with the top Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, Trump undertook a strong offensive to first try to hinder and then eliminate the growing ties of the People's Republic with Latin American nations, even with Argentina, where his outstanding student Javier Milei, a libertarian and fascist, has refused to break important economic ties with the Asian nation.

In this context, Panama would require a separate chapter, but, in general, the anti-China policy is accompanied by the US intention to have military bases and control over transportation routes in the region.

SMOOTH SAILING

In the first quarter of 2025, China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.4% annually and 1.2% quarterly, exceeding expectations.

This achievement is attributed to the continued impact of macroeconomic policies, the acceleration of the innovative drive, and the strengthening of the market," the Chinese newspaper Global Times states in an editorial.

Although the business environment has become more hostile and complex, the publication acknowledges, the long-term fundamentals on which the Chinese economy is based have not changed, and "the endogenous engine of high-quality development continues to emerge."

The achievement, recognized even by Western media, has not been easy, the Global reports. This is due, in large part, to the policies implemented for several years and which, combined with measures such as tax reduction, bond issuance, equipment modernization and technological innovation, boost the economy.

The outlet highlights that China has surpassed $13,000 in GDP per capita and is entering a crucial stage of consumption modernization, as its people-centered development philosophy has strongly resonated with the opportunities that such modernization offers, creating opportunities for economic expansion.

"Behind the first quarter figures lies a deeper truth: China's economic progress is genuinely aimed at improving people's lives. This demonstrates the country's firm determination to focus on doing things well amid the uncertainty of the global outlook," it said. (Text: Arnaldo Musa/Cubasí) (Photo: Cubasí)