, Columnist
China Is Out of Economic Ammo Against the U.S.
It has maxed out tariffs and other trade barriers, and selling Treasuries is ineffective.
It can’t get much worse.
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The Chinese government has issued vague but stern-sounding warnings that it will retaliate for a bill passed by Congress that would require the White House to protect human rights and ensure the territory’s autonomy. But China’s options for economic retaliation are limited. And most of these options have already been exercised amid President Donald Trump's trade war.
China’s most obvious method of retaliation would be to stop buying American goods. But China has already imposed tariffs on $135 billion worth of products. Sales to China from all over the U.S. have plunged: