Natalie Kitroweth

OK, so we understand the money part. You have banks pouring investment into this industry, in part because the government is encouraging them to do so. What about the other ingredients you mentioned, the people and the regulations?

OK, so we understand the money part. You have banks pouring investment into this industry, in part because the government is encouraging them to do so. What about the other ingredients you mentioned, the people and the regulations?

It's amazing. The approach you're describing is so comprehensive. You're really witnessing this authoritarian regime pushing on all the levers available to it to achieve this aggressive goal. And it seems as though having complete control over so many elements of society was in a way key to China's success.

It's amazing. The approach you're describing is so comprehensive. You're really witnessing this authoritarian regime pushing on all the levers available to it to achieve this aggressive goal. And it seems as though having complete control over so many elements of society was in a way key to China's success.

What do you mean? What was that?

What do you mean? What was that?

So, Keith, I want to talk about what Trump's answer to China's dominance has been, and that's tariffs, which I covered back when they started in 2018, when Trump put a slew of tariffs on China. The Biden administration continued a lot of them, added some new ones. And now Trump has just added a new 10 percent tariff on China, which went into effect last week. What is the goal of these tariffs?

So, Keith, I want to talk about what Trump's answer to China's dominance has been, and that's tariffs, which I covered back when they started in 2018, when Trump put a slew of tariffs on China. The Biden administration continued a lot of them, added some new ones. And now Trump has just added a new 10 percent tariff on China, which went into effect last week. What is the goal of these tariffs?

The idea is, in the case of China, tariffs are being used to achieve a really long-term goal, which is, as you said, the revival of American manufacturing. Perhaps another way of putting it is to achieve economic independence from China, our adversary.

The idea is, in the case of China, tariffs are being used to achieve a really long-term goal, which is, as you said, the revival of American manufacturing. Perhaps another way of putting it is to achieve economic independence from China, our adversary.

And what do you think the answer to that question is, Keith? I mean, you've been studying and reporting on China and trade for decades.

And what do you think the answer to that question is, Keith? I mean, you've been studying and reporting on China and trade for decades.

But knowing how slow the U.S. is to act on all of these different fronts, it seems like a long shot, honestly, to imagine that the U.S. would be able to follow through on this kind of comprehensive approach. And in the meantime, tariffs could drag us into this protracted trade war that could raise prices on consumers.

But knowing how slow the U.S. is to act on all of these different fronts, it seems like a long shot, honestly, to imagine that the U.S. would be able to follow through on this kind of comprehensive approach. And in the meantime, tariffs could drag us into this protracted trade war that could raise prices on consumers.

Keith, from what you're saying, there are a lot of economists and national security experts that have come around at this point to the idea that Chinese trade dominance is potentially a real problem. Why do you think it took so long? Why are we in this position now where we're potentially too far behind to even catch up?

Keith, from what you're saying, there are a lot of economists and national security experts that have come around at this point to the idea that Chinese trade dominance is potentially a real problem. Why do you think it took so long? Why are we in this position now where we're potentially too far behind to even catch up?

The fact that that's shifted, that there's much more skepticism now about the trade relationship with China, how much credit can Trump take for that?

The fact that that's shifted, that there's much more skepticism now about the trade relationship with China, how much credit can Trump take for that?

So you're there. Is China afraid of Donald Trump or do they feel at this point that they're so far ahead and were given a pass by the U.S. and its allies for so long that it's actually just too late for anyone to really challenge their place as what you said was the world's sole manufacturing superpower?

So you're there. Is China afraid of Donald Trump or do they feel at this point that they're so far ahead and were given a pass by the U.S. and its allies for so long that it's actually just too late for anyone to really challenge their place as what you said was the world's sole manufacturing superpower?