How will the trade war that is preying on audio equipment end….

The trade war between the United States and China has evolved into a full-fledged retaliative battle, which has surpassed a mere conflict. President Trump, who I expected would compromise somewhere, has not shown any signs of withdrawing to further appeal to the strong image of the United States. In response, China has also begun to impose additional tariffs of the same scale, adversely affecting the global economy.

This is one of the biggest trade wars in history, but many Americans seem to be relying on President Trump's words and deeds. Until now, no one could deny the "feeling of getting done in" by China, and no one could speak to China. And this is the only chance to defeat the power that is expanding its hegemony! There are many Americans who think, "Let ‘em have it, President Trump!" However, in the near future, more than half of the world's population will be of Chinese descent, and in Western societies, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, the population, including that of Japan, will eventually disappear, rather than halve. Scholars who study the world are ringing warning bells, and the conclusion of victory or defeat seems to be only a matter of time.

Even so, the Japanese government's stance is still weak, and it is indecisive without agreeing with either side. Certainly that is the only way to go. However, while most of the media in the streets criticize President Trump's rants, I am glad that President Trump sent a bullish message that the Japanese government cannot send. There must be many politicians who think so, too. Now, we no longer have to worry about who will take on China. President Trump is here for the world! It is secondary whether the policy is right or wrong. The important thing is that China has the confidence and pride to speak, and the political and military power to back it up. That may be a bit worldwide, but it also seems to be the reason why President Trump's popularity is recovering. I may have become one of those "little" supporters before I knew it. To be honest, I who frequently visits Southeast Asia couldn't say anything about China's hegemonic military action, which would take over the entire seas of the Philippines and Vietnam.

However, reality is not that simple. While watching such a trade war from the sidelines, I wonder how I got involved in the battle!!! Is it a dream, an illusion, or a reality? No, in fact, I have a feeling that it will be difficult. Let me explain briefly. Many of the products that Sound House sells are made in China. You can see how high the percentage is by looking at the Made in China label on musical instruments and audio equipment. Since many of them are American brand products, many of them are once exported to the United States and then distributed to the world. Many products have emerged that are subject to a 25% tariff on audio equipment and parts that pass through the route connecting China and the United States. Tariff measures started on July 6. And, for example, Chinese-made connectors are now subject to a 25% tariff. Then, the connector maker has no choice but to raise the price, and audio equipment brands that uses the connector will also consider raising the price all at once. As a matter of fact, recently, many manufacturers have suddenly announced price increases of 5% to 10%. As a result, many products prices have gone up. Will the damage of the trade war spread on a global scale? I’m in a dream state.