Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Matthew Continetti said on Tuesday night, a quick end to the trade war with China is unlikely due to the high price the Chinese would have to pay to satisfy President Donald Trump's demands.
During an appearance on Fox News's Special Report, Continetti argued taking actions such as ending state-owned enterprises and eliminating non-tariff trade barriers are too costly for China with protests occurring in Hong Kong and elections coming early next year in Taiwan.
"We're now in the second day of digesting post-G7, and really the fallout from this China trade war, back and forth," Fox News host Bret Baier said.
"I don't think anyone should be optimistic, Brett, that the trade war will end anytime soon," Continetti responded. "President Trump is asking the Chinese to pay a price they just can't pay. And that is liberalizing their economy: ending the state-owned enterprises, ending the forced technology transfer, ending the non-tariff trade barriers that China has."
"If China were to do that, then they would threaten the CCCP's grip on power," he continued. "So in the midst of protests in Hong Kong, the upcoming anniversary of the Communist Party takeover of China, and then the Taiwan elections in January, we're in for a long road ahead."
Continetti also argued last week that the United States can help the protesters in Hong Kong by "supporting democratic freedoms, and by threatening consequences if Beijing should repress the protests violently."
The escalating trade war between the United States and China has resulted in frustration among farmers who are feeling the impacts of higher tariffs resulting in fewer agricultural exports. The New York Times reported the Trump administration is looking to find other options for helping the struggling farmers beyond two aid packages totaling $28 billion in assistance.