PrairiePundit

 Federalist Wire: ... Recently, former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on his program, “No Spin News,” for labeling President Donald Trump’s trade agreement with the European Union as “fake.” O’Reilly aired a clip of Schumer’s Senate floor speech from Monday, where the senator challenged Trump’s assertion that the deal was the “biggest deal ever.” In a video uploaded to O’Reilly’s YouTube channel, he accused Schumer of outright deceit, claiming the senator was misrepresenting the facts of the agreement. In the clip, Schumer stated, “Trump would have you believe it’s the ‘biggest deal ever,’ that’s his words, dangling $250 billion of new energy purchases and more in new investments. There’s just one hiccup – it’s fake.” O’Reilly countered, insisting, “No, it’s not. Schumer is lying. And I very rarely use that word. I usually say he’s misleading or he’s a propagandist, which he is. But he’s just lying. He’s just head down, reading s...

  Federalist Wire: ... Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, recently sounded an alarm about China’s long-term strategy to overtake the United States. On the “John Solomon Reports” podcast, he laid out a sobering assessment of Beijing’s goals. “China has a plan to replace the United States, and they’re working at it every single day,” LaHood said. “I don’t say that to scare people. That’s the reality. They want to beat us technologically, militarily, economically and diplomatically. And the sooner we wake up to that, the better.” His words point to a growing concern in Washington: China’s methodical pursuit of global dominance. The U.S.-China relationship has grown increasingly tense in recent years, with disputes spanning trade, technology, and national security. From tariffs to tech bans, the two nations have clashed over issues that shape the global order. LaHood’s comments come at a time when American policymakers are grappling with how to counter China’s advances whil...

 Federalist Wire: ... President Donald Trump capped his high-stakes Gulf tour with a landmark announcement on Thursday, unveiling over $200 billion in commercial agreements between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The deals, struck during the final stop of his regional visit, signal a bold step forward in strengthening America’s economic ties with the Gulf and fostering new opportunities for growth. The UAE agreements follow a wave of significant trade and investment commitments secured earlier in Trump’s trip from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These partnerships are poised to drive job creation, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and fuel innovation across multiple industries. “President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters to strengthen our economic and national security,” the White House stated. Among the “transformative deals” are major wins for American companies. Boeing and GE Aerospace sealed a $1...

 Federalist Wire: ... President Donald Trump has once again proven his knack for keeping America’s economic interests first. On April 9, via a Truth Social post, Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs while unveiling substantial increases on duties targeting Chinese exports. This comes hot on the heels of his initial tariff rollout, a strategy that’s drawing both praise and scrutiny. Leading the charge in support is former Trump administration official Steve Moore, who, during a fiery segment on “Faulkner Focus,” predicted that China would face catastrophic consequences in a prolonged trade war with the United States. Moore’s confidence in Trump’s approach signals a turning point in how America confronts China’s economic tactics. Moore didn’t mince words when he tore into China’s track record, arguing that the communist nation’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a colossal misstep for the global community. “I would just remind your viewers China is one...

  Federalist Wire: ... The Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies have reshaped international commerce, with President Trump freezing tariffs at 10% for most countries for 90 days to encourage negotiations, as announced earlier this month. However, tariffs on Chinese goods have surged to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports. A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman criticized the U.S. approach, stating, “The United States has abused tariffs on all its trading partners under the banner of so-called ‘reciprocity,’ while at the same time forcing all parties to start so-called ‘reciprocal tariff negotiations’ with it.” Trump, undeterred, emphasized America’s resolve on Sunday, saying, “It’s good to see that the World knows we are serious, because WE ARE! They must right the wrongs of decades of abuse, but it won’t be easy for them.” As the U.S. forges new trade agreements, with roughly 130 countries engaging in talks, China is actively seeking...

 Victor Davis Hanson: China Would Lose a ‘Trade War’ With the US—’Gradually, then Suddenly’ China's trade war bluff may backfire as the U.S. pushes allies to choose between a rogue economic actor and a flawed but fairer partner with unmatched global power. No one wants a “trade war” with China, or for that matter with any nation. Nonetheless, China has been waging one for years and is now locked in a tariff recalibration with the Trump administration. In this American effort to find trade parity and equity, China can do some short-term damage to the U.S., especially in terms of ceasing exports of some pharmaceuticals, phones, and computers. But ultimately, it cannot win—and will eventually lose catastrophically. It will likely accept that reality sooner rather than later. We are only in the first week of the escalating rhetoric and tariffs. But already China is appealing to its Asian rivals, Australia, and the EU to join in fighting the supposed American bully. But so far, there ar...

 Newsweek: The moment then-candidate Donald Trump came down that escalator ten years ago to announce his presidential campaign and launch the America First movement, elites and Washington insiders foolishly underestimated him. But working people all over the country—like my dad, a factory worker from Columbia City, Indiana—understood what those elites didn't. They knew, for the first time in decades, they had a candidate who was going to genuinely fight for them. President Trump knew that the American working class had been abandoned, and the issues they care about tossed aside, in favor of pursuing forever wars and globalist trade policy. While the elites were busy tripping over themselves to dismiss his campaign, President Trump was busy shining a light on the issues that matter to everyday Americans. Now, with the kickoff of his second-term trade agenda, we're seeing a similar situation unfold. Last week, President Trump announced a strategy of reciprocal tariffs to level t...

 Wall Street Journal: Investors are losing trillions . Corporate leaders are sweating. Consumers are stockpiling . But in a tiny bayou town dotted with marshes, the shrimpers are celebrating President Trump’s tariffs. “When I saw the announcement, I could hardly believe it at first,” said Jeremy Zirlott, a commercial shrimper in town. “It seemed too good to be true.” Trump’s sweeping new tariff regime unveiled last week includes the countries that export most of shrimp Americans consume. That includes rates of around 26% on India, 10% on Ecuador, 32% on Indonesia and 46% on Vietnam . In Bayou La Batre and small shrimping towns like it, the economy has cratered in recent years on the back of a deluge of cheap, farmed shrimp. Fishermen unable to sell their shrimp to break even on gas, labor and supplies have had to tie up their boats. Supply shops, seafood processors, marine technicians and others in the industry have suffered, too. More than 90% of the millions of pounds of shrimp ...

 Bob Hoge: ... They stack the deck, he charged: [The EU has] taken advantage of, I said, you know, we have over $300 billion deficit. They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products, they take almost nothing, and we take everything from them—millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm product. …the European Union is really out of line. [The] UK is out of line, but I'm sure—I think—that one can be worked out, but the European Union is an atrocity, what they've done. ...  Asked about his relationship with the United Kingdom, Trump said he felt he could make a deal: .. Well, Prime Minister [Keir] Starmer has been very nice, we've had a couple of meetings, we've had numerous phone calls. We're getting along very well. and we'll see whether or not we can balance out our budget. With the European Union, it's a $350 billion deficit, so obviously something's gonna take place there. …I wouldn't say there's a timeline, but it...

 Daily Torch: President Donald Trump declared five years ago: “ China’s pattern of misconduct is well known. For decades, they have ripped off the United States like no one has ever done before. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year were lost dealing with China, especially over the years during the prior administration. China raided our factories, offshored our jobs, gutted our industries, stole our intellectual property, and violated their commitments under the World Trade Organization.” Unfortunately, this concerted effort by Beijing to undermine American industry and leadership only increased in the last four years under now former President Joe Biden. As President Trump works hard to usher in a manufacturing renaissance during his second term, we must remain vigilant against Chinese actors working in parallel to undermine America’s resurgence. China is aggressively moving to achieve global dominance in industries such as automotives, construction materials, pharmaceuticals...

 American Action News: President Donald Trump unveiled his trade policy objectives this week and emphasized his plan to strengthen “the American economy, the American worker, and our national security” in his second term. Just hours after taking the oath of office on Monday, Trump introduced a myriad of sweeping executive actions which included a presidential memorandum outlining his vision for an “America First” trade policy. By reducing American “dependence on other countries,” the president’s policy aims to promote “investment and productivity” and defend U.S. “economic and national security,” according to the memorandum. “Americans benefit from and deserve an America First trade policy,” Trump wrote. “Therefore, I am establishing a robust and reinvigorated trade policy that promotes investment and productivity, enhances our Nation’s industrial and technological advantages, defends our economic and national security, and — above all — benefits American workers, manufacturers,...

 American Update: The United States in 2023 imported $427.2 billion in merchandise from the People’s Republic of China, a nation that the U.S. government reports is ruled by a communist regime that is engaging in genocide. Because the United States exported only $147.8 billion in merchandise to China in 2023, according to the numbers published by the U.S. Census Bureau, the $427.2 billion this country imported from China resulted in a bilateral trade deficit of $279.4 billion. That was the largest bilateral trade deficit the United States ran with any nation last year. It was also 83.3% larger than the $152.4 billion trade deficit that the United States ran with Mexico — which was the only country the United States imported more goods from in 2023 ($475.6 billion) than China. Ten of the top 33 items that the U.S. imported from individual countries in 2023 came from China, according to the Census Bureau data. The top U.S. bilateral import from any nation was Canadian crude oil. Amer...

 Fox Business: The U.S. is in dire need of a "wake-up call," according to one retired four-star general, as national security officials have possibly discovered another espionage threat from China . "This is part of the most comprehensive penetration of the United States in our entire history," Fox News senior strategic analyst Ret. Gen. Jack Keane said on " Mornings with Maria " Tuesday. "But given how massive China's penetration is, it's not surprising. And we got to have a wake-up call here in terms of what is really happening." Pentagon officials are reportedly investigating security concerns related to shipping and cargo cranes manufactured in China – then used at ports across America – to monitor U.S. logistics operations , according to The Wall Street Journal. At issue are ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by ZPMC, a Chinese state-owned company that makes close to 80% of cranes currently in use at U.S. ports, including some used by...

 NY Times: How a Texas Border City Is Shaping the Future of Global Trade Laredo is primed to become one of the world’s most important land ports as American companies reduce their reliance on factories in Asia. It also demonstrates how important Texas is to US commerce.  From Brownsville to El Paso the trade with Mexico is happening. 

 Epoch Times: With Lithium Prices Up Ninefold, Report Underscores US Dependence on Foreign Minerals   Demand from electric vehicle manufacturers, other sectors may exceed proven cobalt, lithium, nickel, chromium, zinc reserves, authors warn Biden's alternative to fossil fuels becomes a serious problem that will further drive up the cost. 

 Thomas Lifson: China choking off semiconductor supply with draconian lockdown that makes no sense based on their own data China is no longer a reliable source of chips.  The US must increase its own production of semiconductors. 

 Washington Examiner: Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping thinks the United States and its allies could deprive  China  of food in a crisis, an assessment underpinning a frank call for self-sufficiency. Chinese Communist officials have struggled to feed the country for decades, particularly during Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward, which caused a famine that killed an  estimated  30 million people from 1959 to 1961. Xi alluded to “the time of no grain” but cast the memory as motivation to fortify national security against external threats. ... “You have a very aggressive, self-confident leader, now going into a third term, declaring this a national security issue,” observed Evan Ellis, an expert on China’s engagement with Latin America at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. “The significance is really the tone and a claim that Xi is making, rather than a change in policy.” Such rhetoric tends to heighten the perceived risk of an impending confl...

  Joel Kotkin and Michael Lind: The Covid-19 pandemic brought tragedy and disruption to America. But it has also provided another stark warning concern­ing the country’s disastrous overreliance on overseas production. It has demon­strated that without a strong, self-reliant industrial base, this country’s ability to forge a healthy, prosperous future—and even its ability to defend itself against foreign enemies—will be severely compromised. The fact that the world’s largest, and theoretically most advanced, economy could not provide basic medical equipment like masks or the basic components of pharmaceuticals came as a shock, particularly as the country was forced to lean on its leading geopolitical rival, China, to address a health emergency that originated there. 1 These developments have stirred some businesses and politicians in both parties to seek ways to encourage domestic production. 2 Unfortunately, the response could prove too little and too late. Offshoring is not funda...

  Epoch Times: Shipping Rate Surge Could Derail Economic Recovery, Drive Up Inflation: UNCTAD This should not be too surprising with the inefficient distribution system at California ports making ships idol outside the port for months.  The California ports are making things cost more for everyone.  Meanwhile, Texas and Florida ports are efficiently unloading cargo. See, also: Transitory Inflation? Not With Joe in Charge

 Daniel Greenfield: After a long cross-country flight, I made it out of LAX and into an Uber. I wasn’t in the mood to talk, but the driver was. And hearing that I was a journalist, he wanted to tell me a story. I’ve heard a lot of stories over the years, but this may have been the most important one I let go. He hadn’t always been driving an Uber at 11:30 at night. Not all that long ago he used to have his own business with 7 trucks before he was bankrupted by California’s insane regulations. I listened, but didn’t pay enough attention. The impact of California’s Democrat legislative supermajority on truckers was just another data point alongside what was happening to freelancers of all kinds and a lot of small businesses. Stories like this were everywhere and there was little interest in them even in conservative circles outside the tarnished golden state. Back then we still lived in a world where you could walk into a thousand stores with fully stocked shelves. People ordered fro...