Donald Trump on May 5 suddenly revealed that a trade agreement with China was not imminent after all. To the contrary, the Administration on May 10 raised its earlier 10 percent tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25%, and threatened to extend 25% tariffs to the remainder of imports from China by late June (roughly $300 billion of goods). China, of course, retaliated against US exports [announcing reciprocal 25% tariffs on $60 billion of US goods, to start June 1. Surprised stock markets fell in response, with the S&P 500 down 4 per cent over the first week of the renewed trade war.
Author Archives: jfrankel
Moore on Gold and Commodities
April 30, 2019 — A century ago, the gold standard was considered a guarantor of monetary stability. That golden era is long-gone. (If it ever really existed at all. The general price level fell 53% in US and 45% in the UK during 1873-1896 due to a dearth of gold deposit discoveries.)
Continuing my thoughts on the Fed candidacy of Stephen Moore: he has said several times that he favors a return to gold. In true Trumpian fashion, he recently denied having said it despite the clear video evidence.
Moore Troubles for the Fed
April 30, 2019 — Of the two men whom Donald Trump had intended to nominate to empty seats on the Federal Reserve Board, Herman Cain has now withdrawn his name. This leaves the other one, Stephen Moore.
The Senate would have to decide whether to confirm Moore. He has some problems roughly analogous to Cain’s: he is considered to be under an ethical cloud and he often gets his economic facts wrong. Cynics might respond that he would thereby fit right in with the roster of Trump nominees throughout the government. But Trump’s earlier appointments to the Fed have been people of ability and integrity and have been doing a good job, Chair Jerome Powell in particular. Perhaps Trump did not start paying attention to Fed appointments until recently.
