Oil falls after Trump's threats to China

[Juan Carlos Zuleta + 2]

The argument goes as follows. U.S. tariffs would tend to reduce China's economic growth. And this, in turn, would have an impact on its demand for oil. See: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4230868-can-expect-oil-prices-coming-years-updated.  

[Tom Kirkman + 8,860]

Chinese Regime Shocked by Tariff Increases; Chinese Netizens Celebrate

Two tweets by President Donald Trumpabout raising tariffs on Chinese goods caused Chinese stock markets to tumble and media to speculate that the trade negotiations with China wouldn’t go forward.

And while Chinese official media have been silent on Trump’s decision to raise tariffs, Chinese netizens are celebrating and calling Trump the “Great Savior” of the Chinese people.

On the morning of May 5, Trump wrote in a tweet that he would raise tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent on May 10, and tax the currently untaxed $325 billion of Chinese goods at a rate of 25 percent “shortly.”

In a second tweet, Trump said: “The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!”

Trump’s new stance apparently has taken Chinese officials by surprise, who were hoping that a deal would be reached soon.

... 

On Twitter and Facebook, which are banned in mainland China, savvy Chinese netizens who know how to “jump over the Great Firewall” that censors the Chinese internet are getting uncensored information. Many of the Chinese on these platforms are celebrating and praising Trump’s decision.

One tweet by user “Swedenhermit,” translated from the original Chinese, reads: “After Trump tweeted about raising tariffs (on Chinese goods), Chinese netizens on Twitter are all celebrating and praising this. I also sincerely hope that this negotiation will fail and tariffs will be raised (as announced by Trump). I also hope that more tariffs will be imposed on all remaining untaxed goods. Thus, the Chinese Communist Party will run out of money soon. Even if these things really happen, regarding Trump, I still want to say, ‘Tactically, he is very smart; but strategically, he is not as great as people expect him to be.’ He is an ‘America First’ president. All his attacks are for the purpose of defense. However, as long as he perseveres to the end, that’s enough!”

Some other Chinese netizens are postingmemes about Trump on Facebook.

One meme was created based on a famous CCP propaganda image depicting Chairman Mao as the “great savior” of Chinese people. But Mao’s photo is replaced with Trump’s, with a Chinese slogan saying, “Trump Is the Great Savior of the Chinese People.” With a careful look, one can see in the image a very typical “revolutionary peasant” woman, holding a sign that says “We Love Trump.”