U.S.-China trade

Insights from Rodney Faraon.

International trade, with the U.S. and China at the forefront, is undergoing a paradigmatic shift away from free trade and toward an aggressive form of neo-mercantilism.

If China is able to seize the opportunity to revitalize its domestic economy and invigorate the multilateral system, Trump’s trade war 2.0 could end up a strategic gift to Beijing. 

Insights from Bradley Martin. 

Planned reforms could indirectly help balance China-U.S. trade by boosting consumption, thereby reducing political hostility between the two major powers. 

The targeted and restrained nature of the latest round of tariffs suggests the U.S. and China are unlikely to engage in a full-scale trade war this year. But the situation remains precarious. 

As China's overcapacity becomes a buzzword, restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles are expected. However, the objectives, approaches, and anticipated outcomes differ between Europe and the U.S.

While there are important similarities between the Biden and Trump approaches toward China, there are also stark and meaningful differences.

Elizabeth O’Brien Ingleson discusses the intersecting economic interests in China and the U.S. that transformed global trade starting in the 1970s.

China dominates the manufacturing of intermediate goods – so even if a finished product is made elsewhere, it almost certainly includes “Made in China” components. 

Insights from Allen Morrison.

From trade data to investment, economic statistics are starting to reflect the emphasis on curtailing dependencies.