There is some truth when Jack Ma said America benefited from the trade deficits. Actually, the USA started to consolidate its superpower status when they went from surplus to deficits about the 1980s and became the greatest debtor nation on earth; the total US federal debt is now 21 trillion.
Trade deficits means the US is getting goods and just pay with paper currencies - nothing bad for a super power that also has full control of the world's monetary system. Trump may be a business man, but he may not understand the deeper economic implications in world trade.
Although Jack Ma said the trade war may last 20 years, I'll say it may at most last 4 more years. The next incoming US president may undo his trade war just as Trump undid Obama Care.
Chan Rasjid.