**Trump‘s China Strategy Hinges on Crippling Russia’s Economy**
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump wants to take a tough stance against China economically and strategically. However, this could be a difficult problem to solve because many goods bought in the United States have supply chains that are deeply rooted in Chinese manufacturing.
If new U.S. tariffs cause the Chinese currency to go down in value, Chinese products will still be competitive for now. If the cost of Chinese imported goods in the U.S. goes up, this could hurt lower-income Americans and make it harder for American manufacturers that use imported parts to compete.
**A Quick Win Against China**
But Trump might score a quick and impressive victory against China by pushing Russia out of Ukraine and restoring the country‘s pre-invasion borders. This would boost the U.S.’s reputation around the world and give Trump more power in dealing with China on other issues.
By cutting off Russian oil exports, Trump could essentially shut down their war machine. Russia’s economy is relatively small, with a GDP of around $2.2 trillion in 2024 – less than 8% of the U.S. economy.
**Russia’s Dependence on China**
Russia has become a client state by allying itself with other countries like Iran and North Korea. However, it’s heavily dependent on China for essential components and consumer goods. In fact, China supplied more than 50% of all Russian battlefield-related imports in 2023, worth over $5.5 billion.
Without Chinese components, Russia’s stock of missiles would quickly run out, and Ukraine would gain air superiority.
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