I know I'm a heretic to the present narrative of tariff this and retaliate that, but the concept of large transnational corporations tied to a single nation-state is so 20th century.
Exxon, Boeing, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, etc. etc. are trillion $ transnational corporations that are borderless in a world where fewer than 20 countries have a $1 trillion GDP. They conduct their own diplomacy, make their own deals, and write their own regulatory rules. As Jack Welch said a few years ago, "GE is American in America, German in Germany, and Brazilian in Brazil." I assume GE is also Chinese in China.
Whatever the trade/tariff outcome, the large transnationals (including Huawei) will do OK. They are nimble enough to arbitrage whatever potential roadblocks placed in their pathway and powerful enough to throw their weight around. If it does get painful, Trump will change his tune overnight because their lobbying clout in DC is powerful.
But to even insinuate the possibility of WMD in a trade spat is sheer insanity. I haven't heard a single anti-Chinese comment and get no sense that there is any anti-Chinese animosity over trade (but I'm sure CNN and Fox News will be on the scene of the first China bashers). Americans are not going to riot in the streets just so ADM and Cargill can sell more soybeans.
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