'They Have Screwed Me Over The Last 12 Years,' Says Kevin O'Leary, Cheers For Tariffs – 'Squeeze Chinese Heads Is What I'm Willing To Do'

Kevin O’Leary, known to many as Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank, isn’t holding back regarding his frustrations with China. In a recent interview on FOX Business, O’Leary didn’t mince words, making it clear that he feels U.S. businesses, including his own, have been getting a raw deal in China for over a decade. His solution? Ramp up the pressure with tariffs and tough policies until China plays fair.

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According to him, while China enjoys easy access to U.S. markets, American businesses don’t have the same opportunities in China. U.S. companies face Chinese courts and regulations, which he believes are stacked against foreign businesses.

“They have screwed me over the last 12 years,” O’Leary said, referring to his struggles as an investor in the Chinese market. “I have no access to their courts. I can’t understand why they get to list their companies without the same cost and compliance that I have to pay,” he continued.

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O’Leary is frustrated with the trade relationship’s unfairness. He believes the U.S. needs to pressure China with tariffs and other economic actions until they treat American companies fairly. In his own words, the U.S. needs to “squeeze Chinese heads.”

O’Leary sees tariffs as necessary but doesn’t love them in the long run. By keeping the heat on, China will have no choice but to come to the negotiating table and agree to fairer trade practices. O’Leary wants to ensure that the Chinese don’t take advantage of American businesses and that the U.S. gets a fair deal in global trade.

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Earlier this year, he made similar comments, saying, “I worry about China every single day,” before continuing, “There's absolutely no reason why we remain the largest economy on earth. We cannot squeeze Chinese heads until we get what we want.”

O'Leary believes that China responds to firmness and that it is time for the U.S. to “give them the stick,” an analogy for applying stricter measures to ensure justice and equal interchange in economic and trade relationships. “I am all for squeezing them every single day and keeping the policy tight,” he said. 

O’Leary’s not alone in his criticism of the country. The U.S.-China conflict has been widening for quite some time now. Still, O’Leary understands that fair trade between the U.S. and China is important for both sides, and American business owners don’t want to lose this extremely important market. O’Leary and many others simply want to ensure American businesses get fair treatment, not to hurt China, but to develop a level of relationship that benefits everyone.

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