By Daniel Nardini
While U.S. President Donald Trump has been intimidating America’s allies and trading partners, China has found the United States’ dumbfounded intransigence as a bonanza for their trade network. But before I say more, I should explain why the United States is now cathartic in its foreign policy and trade policy towards the world. When Trump became president, he fired not only the high level but also the mid-level and low level personnel throughout the federal government who dealt with foreign and trade policies. Most of these people were never replaced, and even now the whole federal bureaucracy remains hollowed out. So even if other countries wanted to negotiate with the United States, it will be hard to do. Just as devastating are the tariffs Trump has unilaterally put on………………the entire world basically. Trump has taken over so much control over the huge trade network of the United States that almost no country will want to deal with America. They know Trump does not keep his word, and they will wait for Trump to either die in office or when his term is over. So this will be a long time before the United States ever comes back onto the world stage as a major trading power.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government is getting more of the world market that the United States is leaving a void in. One example is the growing trade relations between China and the European Union. Back in the 2010’s, there was a serious schism between China and the European Union due to China’s economic colonialism in some parts of Europe and China’s dismal human rights record. Because of Trump’s threats, current Chinese President Xi Jinping has come out with a new policy of “do no harm” where both China and the European Union can sort out their trade relations regardless of politics. This policy seems to be working. One important thing that many countries in the European Union want from China is China’s monopoly of rare earth metals. This is something that China has used to its advantage, and it seems to be working. Even countries like the Netherlands and Denmark are negotiating directly with China over rare earth metals and trade in general. When member countries in the European Union and the European Union as a whole has more trust in China than in the United States, this is a major concern for America and Americans.
Canada’s negotiation with more trade with China should send America into a panic. China has lowered its tariffs with Canada’s products especially with Canadian canola oil. In return, Canada will allow 49,000 Chinese-made electric utility vehicles to be imported into Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a “reset” of relations with China, which is such a reversal of what relations between China and Canada were in the 2010’s. Back then there was a virtual trade war between China and Canada, and the Chinese government actually held two Canadian citizens hostage for two years. Relations between Canada and the United States have deteriorated so far and so badly that for Canada to re-examine its relations with China is a very sad state of affairs. But this is what has happened. Prime Minister Carney has said it clearly when he said that, “our relationship with America is over.” Additionally, even many countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia are now quietly trying to improve trade relations with China. Even American allies like Japan and South Korea are deepening their trade relationships with China. It is the irony that China, which was a virtual pariah during the Covid-19 pandemic, has come back on to the world stage as a stable and reliable trading partner because the United States has become an unstable and unreliable trading partner.
China on the March
By Daniel Nardini
Meanwhile, the Chinese government is getting more of the world market that the United States is leaving a void in. One example is the growing trade relations between China and the European Union. Back in the 2010’s, there was a serious schism between China and the European Union due to China’s economic colonialism in some parts of Europe and China’s dismal human rights record. Because of Trump’s threats, current Chinese President Xi Jinping has come out with a new policy of “do no harm” where both China and the European Union can sort out their trade relations regardless of politics. This policy seems to be working. One important thing that many countries in the European Union want from China is China’s monopoly of rare earth metals. This is something that China has used to its advantage, and it seems to be working. Even countries like the Netherlands and Denmark are negotiating directly with China over rare earth metals and trade in general. When member countries in the European Union and the European Union as a whole has more trust in China than in the United States, this is a major concern for America and Americans.
Canada’s negotiation with more trade with China should send America into a panic. China has lowered its tariffs with Canada’s products especially with Canadian canola oil. In return, Canada will allow 49,000 Chinese-made electric utility vehicles to be imported into Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a “reset” of relations with China, which is such a reversal of what relations between China and Canada were in the 2010’s. Back then there was a virtual trade war between China and Canada, and the Chinese government actually held two Canadian citizens hostage for two years. Relations between Canada and the United States have deteriorated so far and so badly that for Canada to re-examine its relations with China is a very sad state of affairs. But this is what has happened. Prime Minister Carney has said it clearly when he said that, “our relationship with America is over.” Additionally, even many countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia are now quietly trying to improve trade relations with China. Even American allies like Japan and South Korea are deepening their trade relationships with China. It is the irony that China, which was a virtual pariah during the Covid-19 pandemic, has come back on to the world stage as a stable and reliable trading partner because the United States has become an unstable and unreliable trading partner.