InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[olddog967]

jjff: Throwing out an amount of $5 trillion, without giving further details, is a nice scare propaganda tactic. However, when you see that the amount covers a 34 year period, it doesn’t sound as bad. In addition, the number only covers the goods trade deficit, while the goods trade deficit is the major component of the overall trade deficit with China, the US has been running a services trade surplus with China. From a US Trade Representative summary report on 2018 trade with China:

“Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $419.2 billion in 2018, a 11.6% increase ($43.6 billion) over 2017.

The United States has a services trade surplus of an estimated $41 billion with China in 2018, up 0.8% from 2017."

As to whether a trade deficit is really bad, there are many factors to consider and I think you will find that many economists do not agree with that conclusion.