Kamala Harris is betting that Americans don¡¯t want an all-out confrontation when they tell pollsters they¡¯d like their leaders to get even tougher on China.
Faced with polling that says most Americans believe confronting China should be a top foreign-policy priority, Harris¡¯ campaign messaging suggests that while she won¡¯t go easy on China, there¡¯s no upside in a greater rupture between the world¡¯s two biggest economies. That contrasts with her rival Donald Trump, who¡¯s argued for 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Harris has been part of efforts to ¡°responsibly manage the competition with China,¡± her top foreign policy aide, Phil Gordon, wrote in a note soon after President Joe Biden stepped down from the race. In keeping with Harris¡¯ scant policy platform so far, the note didn¡¯t mention tariffs at all.
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