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Tibet Sun trade writer comes out swinging for Donald Trump

"THE need of the hour is brazenness, of the type shown by Donald Trump, the one who has the audacity to say "They [China] are a manipulator, grand master level," and get tough."

That is the view of Laden Tshering Samdup, retired businessman in Kathmandu, whose views on the world trade receive prominence in the Tibet Sun newspaper, of Dharamshala, India, near the Nepalese border.

"For the US, times are grim and challenging. Suave American politicians singing "God Bless America' cannot be relied upon to rein in the crafty Chinese," he said.

"China kept the yuan under tight control and undervalued for over two decades to enable its exports to be competitively cheaper in the international market," said Mr Samdup.

"Due to this manipulation, though unfair, China's exports surged and reached the formidable figure of US$2.7 trillion by 2015, far ahead of US total exports of $1.6 trillion," he said.

The gross trade advantage accrued by China over the US has wrecked the US manufacturing and industrial base, he said, adding that it is estimated that as much as 34 per cent of US manufacturing has run aground between 1997 and 2016.

The effect on US employment has been equally devastating. The US lost 21,66,000 jobs due to trade deficit with China during the period 1997 to 2006.

"China's domestic market is over-protected through some restrictions or other, censorship is overpowering, and retribution strong for any trade actions and even public expression of grievances," he said.

The tightening of controls on capital and profit remittances has Japanese investors screaming silently, said Mr Samdup.

In a recent survey, the majority of US businessmen have dissatisfaction and felt they were not welcome in China. Microsoft, Adobe, Panasonic, Yahoo, and Adidas have already exited.

"The much-hyped Chinese project 'One Belt, One Road' carries geo-strategic implications of a Chinese challenge on US supremacy over Europe, so too the South China Seas where the US guarantees freedom of navigation," he said.

"China has already gained supremacy in trade and investment over the US in South America, which till recently was considered the back yard of the US.

"It is undertaking mega projects having strategic value like the Nicaragua Canal as an alternative to the US-built Panama Canal, and the Brazil rail to link the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean," Mr Samdup said.