Core Points - The underlying reason and strategic intent of the Trump administration's tariff war is to achieve economic rebalancing, which has been difficult due to conflicting policy goals within the U.S. [1] - The U.S. has experienced a long history of economic imbalance and attempts at rebalancing, with significant events such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic impacting these efforts [2] Industry Structure - Before 2008, the U.S. faced severe deindustrialization, with manufacturing jobs declining by 33% over ten years, reaching approximately 11.51 million by the end of 2009 [3] - From 2008 to 2019, the U.S. government focused on revitalizing manufacturing and high-tech industries, resulting in a rise in manufacturing employment to about 12.8 million by the end of 2019 [3] - The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this recovery, leading to a drop in manufacturing jobs to 11.68 million in Q2 2020, with a slow recovery thereafter [3] Trade Sector - The U.S. has historically faced a trade deficit, with the current account deficit reaching approximately $816.6 billion in 2006, accounting for 5.91% of GDP [4] - The trade deficit improved somewhat from 2008 to 2019 due to various government policies aimed at curbing imports and promoting exports, but it has since widened again, with a projected current account deficit of $1.1336 trillion in 2024 [4] - The U.S. has a significant reliance on imports for labor-intensive and some capital-intensive products, which has hindered balanced economic growth [4] Savings and Investment Structure - Prior to 2008, the U.S. exhibited high consumption and low savings, with a savings-investment gap peaking during the financial crisis [5] - The U.S. savings rate rebounded to 20% by 2015 but has since declined to 17% by 2024, while the investment rate has increased, leading to a widening savings-investment gap of $1.29 trillion [5] - The U.S. external debt reached $27.6 trillion by the end of 2024, constituting 93% of GDP, indicating a reliance on international financing [5] Challenges in Achieving Economic Rebalancing - The U.S. faces inherent contradictions in its economic rebalancing policies, which have not fundamentally altered the comparative disadvantages of its manufacturing sector [6] - The strong dollar and the U.S.'s ability to purchase goods globally have perpetuated trade deficits, as the country can print dollars to meet domestic demand [7] - Excessive government spending has counteracted improvements in trade deficits that could have resulted from increased household savings [8] - The mismatch between demand expansion and supply chain recovery during the pandemic has exacerbated trade imbalances, leading to a significant increase in the goods trade deficit [9] Potential Policy Directions Post-Tariff War - The U.S. may continue to use tariffs as leverage in negotiations with China, potentially fluctuating tariff rates based on trade discussions [10] - There is a possibility that the U.S. will seek support from other countries for U.S. debt and may consider debt restructuring to alleviate fiscal pressures [11] - The U.S. might intervene in foreign exchange policies to seek a weaker dollar while also exploring the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in its reserves to bolster confidence in the dollar [11] - The U.S. is likely to implement differentiated tariffs and create trade blocs to counter China's influence, aligning with allied nations to reshape global supply chains [12]