U.S. Undermined by Mixed Motives in China Trade War

​U.S.' motives in the trade war are confused and contradictory, which makes a quick resolution unlikely.  On the one hand, we have Trump's misguided obsession with the trade deficit, which can only be reduced by distorting efficient markets.  On the other, the "grown up" and universally shared effort to induce China to remove unfair restraints on foreign competition. The latter, however, has taken a back seat due to Trump's bully pulpit (Twitter).

https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-obsession-with-trade-deficits-make-a-trade-deal-impossible-2019-9