Why Buffett is worried about US-China trade war

Warren Buffett mentioned on Monday that a trade war between the United States and China would be "bad for the whole world."

Buffett spoke after US President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that he'll carry price lists on $200 billion of Chinese imports to 25 consistent with cent from 10 consistent with cent beginning Friday.


Trump also mentioned he would quickly slap a 25 consistent with cent tariff on $325 billion of Chinese goods that have now not been taxed.



Major stock markets fell worldwide on Monday in accordance with the president's tweet, which got here forward of scheduled trade talks this week, and was once a "rational" reaction, Buffett advised a television channel.

Buffett's conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc owns or invests in lots of corporations that do business in China, together with Apple Inc, by which it has a more than $50 billion stake, and Chinese electrical car maker BYD Co.

"If we actually have a trade war it will be bad for the whole world," Buffett mentioned.

A full-scale trade war is unlikely however " it would be bad for everything Berkshire owns," Buffett added.

He nonetheless mentioned it would be "nonsense" for traders to sell shares in line with headlines, and that the US-China would now not impact how Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire operates.

"We will buy the same stocks today that we were buying last week," he mentioned.

Trump on Monday tweeted that the United States has for many years misplaced $600 billion to $800 billion every year on trade, and "with China we lose 500 Billion Dollars. Sorry, we're not going to be doing that anymore!"



Buffett mentioned tough talk forward of trade negotiations was once understandable, announcing that for some other people "the best technique is to act half-crazy," however it would be ineffective to "shake your fist first and then shake your finger later on."

He added that Trump's threat raises the stakes for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"You're talking about two personalities who are very much used to getting their way in politics, and talking about how they will be perceived in their own country in terms of their behavior," Buffett mentioned. "It gets very complicated."

Buffett mentioned the trade dispute has already had an effect on Berkshire's BNSF railroad.

Last week, Jim Weber, the manager executive officer of Berkshire's Brooks Running unit, mentioned in an interview that his company was once ending most shoe manufacturing in China and transferring it to Vietnam as a result of tariff considerations.


Buffett also mentioned the United States will have to bolster its trade family members with Canada and Mexico.


"We've got lots and lots and lots of common interests," he mentioned. "Trade with Mexico and Canada is enormously important. We should treat them as neighbors, and not adversaries."


Berkshire ended March with $191.8 billion of equity investments. It also owns more than 90 corporations together with energy and software corporations, Geico auto insurance and Dairy Queen ice cream.



Why Buffett is worried about US-China trade war Why Buffett is worried about US-China trade war Reviewed by Kailash on May 07, 2019 Rating: 5
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