May seem stronger, but the end can be very abrupt.

"China announced Friday it will hit US imports worth $75 billion with new tariffs as retaliation for Washington's planned tariff hikes, further intensifying the pair's bruising trade war," reported Reuters. "The punitive tariffs of 5 to 10 percent will apply to 5,078 items from the US, starting September 1 and December 15, China's state council office said." This is in response to President Donald Trump's intention to levy 10% tariffs on the remaining $300 billion of Chinese imports into the US. However, after lobbying by retailers, Trump announced that "he is delaying some tariffs on Chinese imports ahead of the Christmas season to stem their potential impact on holiday shopping". Earlier, "China responded to Donald Trump's tariff threat with another escalation of trade war on Monday, letting the yuan tumble to the weakest level in more than a decade and asking state-owned companies to suspend imports of US agricultural products." China calculates that the pressure is on Trump because he has to face re-election next year and, if he loses, the next president maybe more malleable, whereas Xi Jinping was allowed to remain president for life by the National People's Congress. "President Xi, who is a strong man, I call him 'king'," Trump revealed in a speech. There are grim predictions of a looming recession because the US has been enjoying the longest period of economic growth in history. "This month marks the 121st month of the economic expansion arising out of the great financial crisis, making it the longest run on record going back to 1854." Many countries, including Germany, are seeing a slowing down in growth and the trade war is makes a recession more possible. Tessa Stuart lists all the reasons why "The Next Recession Is Going To Be Brutal," in the US. "In the US, the number of companies with increased risk of becoming financially distressed -- companies that either generated negative Ebidta (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) or have net debt to Ebidta over 3x -- has grown noticeably this cycle (53% as of 30 June 2019) versus last cycle (32% as of 30 June 2007)," wrote Prof VA Nageswaran. "Globally, about $13 trillion of debt is trading at negative yields." The US is the largest market for Chinese goods, importing $557.9 billion in 2018, so a recession in the US, leading to a severe fall in consumer spending, will surely hit China very hard. One would think that Europe, which has grown rich because of the Marshall Plan after World War II, when the US gave $12 billion for reconstruction, would support the US without hesitation. But, "European leaders remain convinced that they can uphold values and norms they share with Washington while benefiting  from greater engagement with China," wrote Kendall-Taylor and Rizzo. In short, take Chinese money while sheltering under NATO umbrella, financed by the US. In fury at Chinese action Trump has announced higher tariffs of his own and has asked US companies to get out of China. Trump can only lose an election but Xi should remember what happens to dictators. Like Nicolae Ceausescu, a communist.