Panem's Got Nothing on This Trade War Drama! Will They Ever Learn?!

Another Day Another Disaster (Almost)

Well folks if I didn't know better I'd say President Snow was back in charge playing games with our lives only this time instead of districts it's countries. Word on the street – or you know the financial press – is that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is talking about the trade war with China. Apparently he gave a keynote address to some fancy Institute of International Finance thing in D.C. Sounds thrilling doesn't it? Like a real life Hunger Games but with spreadsheets and tariffs instead of arrows and fire.

The Capitol's Got a New Game: Trade!

Bessent’s been flapping his gums about the Trump administration maybe just maybe thinking about cutting those steep tariffs on China. "China needs to change," he said. "The country knows it needs to change. Everyone knows it needs to change. And we want to help it change—because we need rebalancing too." I swear sometimes I feel like I'm back in the arena trying to decipher Haymitch's drunken advice. What does it all MEAN?!

De Escalation: A Word I Haven't Heard Since the Quarter Quell

Apparently in a super secret closed door meeting (because that's how the Capitol – I mean Washington – rolls) Bessent told investors that he expects “there will be a de escalation” in Trump’s trade war with China “in the very near future.” De escalation? Is that even a real word? I haven't heard that one since I managed to not blow up the entire arena in the Quarter Quell. But hey I learned long ago that hope is a dangerous thing. But I'm going to cling to it anyway! Maybe there is a happy ending for Panem or at least not another Hunger Games.

Nobody Wins When We're All Starving (Economically)

Bessent also muttered something about how “no one thinks the current status quo is sustainable” with these tariff rates. Well duh. It's like saying nobody thinks getting chased by genetically modified mutts is a good idea. You don't need to be a genius to figure that out. What I don't understand is: if everyone knows it's bad why are we doing it in the first place?

Is This the End of the Line?

I'm not an economist and I’m definitely not from the Capitol but I do know that when things go south the people in the districts – or you know regular folks – are the ones who suffer. Maybe just maybe this “de escalation” will actually happen. Maybe this time the odds will be ever in our favor. But I won't hold my breath. After all “it must be a very fragile peace if it needs to be guarded by lies.” – President Snow.

Another Show For The Capitol

And remember folks subscribe to CNBC on YouTube for more thrilling updates on trade wars! You know because watching the economy crumble is just as entertaining as watching kids fight to the death! Maybe not but at least now you're more informed on the issue good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.