International Relation: The Trade War between the United States and China

From both a military and economic perspective, the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China represent two of the most powerful countries in the world. Since their initial interaction, the relationship between these two nations has been at times amicable and at other times confrontational. After the election of Donald Trump in 2016, the tension between the two has grown, especially with respect to Chinese economic policies, which the U.S. has long claim were unfairly organized. The present trade war between the U.S. and China is one of the most important but also controversial issuestoday. While it is still boiling, the international society is hopefully seeking ways to eliminate the tension and to restore peaceful economic relations. This paper will assess the present trade war from two perspectives. First, it will situate the disagreement between China and the U.S. in historical context, looking back to moments in history that have led up to the present engagement. Secondly, the paper will address potential strategies that the two nations can pursue as the attempt the negotiate their differences. This paper argues that the primary cause of the trade war is the shift in China from a purely manufacturing economy to a technological one. This shift has created enormous anxiety in America, specifically around the question of national security. The present trade war represents the American attempt to regain control of this sector.