Article snippet: Democrats competing for the chance to challenge MORE in 2020 are trying to thread the needle when it comes to discussing the U.S. trade war with China. White House hopefuls are promising to ramp down the economically painful trade war while also vowing to be tough on China. In Thursday night's debate, candidate after candidate trashed Trump for a trade policy they called erratic and misguided. “The president clearly has no strategy,” said South Bend, Ind., Mayor MORE. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro called Trump’s approach to trade “erratic” and “haphazard,” while Sen. MORE (D-Calif.) compared the president’s trade policy to the man behind the curtain in “The Wizard of Oz.” “When you pull back the curtain, it's a really small dude,” she said. But none of the candidates said they would immediately scrap Trump’s tariffs if they took office. Instead, they pledged to seek a negotiated solution with China — the same thing Trump says is needed to eliminate the tariffs. “I would not repeal the tariffs on day one, but I would let the Chinese know that we need to hammer out a deal. Because right now the tariffs are pummeling producers and farmers in Iowa who have absolutely nothing to do with the imbalances that we have with China,” said entrepreneur MORE. Trump has gradually increased trade barriers, particularly with China, in an effort to develop leverage in negotiations. He struck a deal with Canada and Mexico as well as South Korea after ... Link to the full article to read more