Obama Kowtows To Unions, Slaps Tariffs On China

President Obama pandered to his base recently when he slapped tariffs on imported Chinese tires after complaints by a U.S. union. China immediately filed a grievance with the WTO. Unless both sides tread carefully, this may trigger a trade war with China at a time when they hold a majority of the U.S. debt.

Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- China is demanding talks with the U.S. and has filed a complaint to the World Trade Organization on Barack Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on tires from the Asian nation.

Obama announced duties Sept. 11 of 35 percent on $1.8 billion of automobile tires from China, acting on a complaint by the United Steelworkers union against the second-largest U.S. trading partner. China said yesterday it will begin dumping and subsidy probes of chicken and auto products from the U.S.

Can you say stupid? I'm no fan of trade with China (pass the cheap goods, please), but a global recession is no time to play protectionist politics. This can only cause more people to lose their jobs, trigger inflationary pressures, and antagonize the foreign debt holders.

But it was a union, see? Obama had to protect the base (donors, really). The union whined, Obama pandered, China threatened -- see how it works?

Every President panders, but it doesn't keep it from being any less disgusting. If you're going to pander, pander to me (all I got was this lousy t-shirt).