HAVANA, CUBA

HE WANTS RUSSIA on his side, to head off China. He needs a strong manufacturing sector, to head off China. He wants a weaker dollar to head off China. He is Donald Trump and China is his focus. If you can’t help him against China, adios.

For Donald Trump, the Pacific is the centre of world competition. Europe is yesterday’s news. It’s conflicts are of no consequence now that it has lost its empires. Its fight with Russia is in his way.

Used to be Europe could face off Russian Communism for America. And for that it was pampered. But that ended decades ago. And China is less Communist than California. Trump wants manufacturing might to face off against China. And to shore up his own blue collar vote.

The tariffs are meant to sort out the support from the hangers on. The support will knuckle under, the hangers on will drift away. The world has changed.