Cato Podcast Trade, Power, and Tension: The U.S.-China Story
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Aug 19, 2025 Clark Packard, a research fellow at the Cato Institute specializing in U.S.-China relations, dives into the evolving dynamics of this complex partnership. He discusses how trade liberalization has benefitted American consumers while highlighting the tensions arising from China's rising assertiveness. The conversation reveals the paradox where economic interdependence doesn't necessarily prevent conflict and explores the challenges of U.S. foreign policy amidst a changing global power landscape.
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1990s Panglossian Faith In Markets
- Justin and Clark recall the 1990s optimism that economic opening would liberalize China politically.
- They say those expectations were widespread but later proved overly sanguine.
Trade Brought Major Consumer Gains
- U.S. integration with China delivered huge consumer benefits while also costing manufacturing jobs.
- Clark Packard estimates roughly $1,500 in annual gains per average American family from China trade.
Economic Growth Transformed China
- China's economic liberalization massively reduced extreme poverty and transformed living standards.
- Justin Logan emphasizes the epochal scale of China’s growth since 2000 and its human impact.
