Trump Advisor To Discuss U.S.-China Trade War At Rider

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — An influential behind-the-scenes advisor for President Donald Trump will discuss the trade war between the United States and China during an appearance at Rider University next week.

Dr. Michael Pillsbury will speak about “Winning the U.S.-China Trade War” on Oct. 30 as part of this year's Hennessy Family Lecture on Capitalism. The series has previously brought former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and writer Dinesh D'Souza to Rider. The event is presented by the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics.

“The current state of trade with China has already had short-term effects on the economy and U.S. workers,” Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics Director Micah Rasmussen said. "Few are as well-positioned as Michael Pillsbury to help us understand what is happening now and what the long-term implications will be."

Part of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign focused on what he unfair trade practices with U.S. trading partners. His decision to impose tariffs against China set off a trade war between the world’s two largest economies in 2018. The decision ignited a series of escalating economic retaliation that has, at times, rattled global markets while straining the economies of both nations.

Trump describes Pillsbury, a frequent media commentator, as the “leading authority on China.” He is the director for the Center on Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute, as well as the author of “The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower.” Pillsbury has served in the presidential administrations of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

The event begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by remarks at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public, but anyone who wishes to attend is asked to register ahead of time at www.rider.edu/pillsbury.

The Rebovich Institute was founded by the late Professor David Rebovich in 2001. It is dedicated to public service and scholarly analysis of government, public policy, campaigns and elections in New Jersey.