Front Burner

When China and the U.S. fight, who wins?

Apr 16, 2025

David Rennie, a columnist for The Economist and former Beijing correspondent, offers a deep dive into the fraught China-U.S. relationship. He reveals how Chinese officials see Trump as a revolutionary figure while asserting that tariffs will backfire on Americans. Rennie discusses China's confidence in facing U.S. trade actions, their push for de-dollarization, and the significance of the ongoing trade war as a moment of opportunity for China. He also draws intriguing parallels between Trump and Mao, highlighting cultural misconceptions shaping perceptions on both sides.

41:28

Episode guests

David Rennie

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Quick takeaways

The U.S.-China trade conflict reflects a dramatic shift from cooperation to escalating tariffs, underscoring long-term economic strife potential.

China's confidence in resisting U.S. pressure stems from a narrative of resilience, positioning itself as a rising global power amid perceived U.S. decline.

Deep dives

The Intensifying Trade War

The trade relationship between the United States and China is currently characterized by escalating tariffs and heightened tensions. The U.S. has imposed significant tariffs on Chinese exports, reportedly reaching up to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with its own 125% tariffs. This trade conflict represents a dramatic shift from a previously cooperative economic partnership, wherein American exports to China had increased despite political rhetoric. As both nations engage in this tariff battle, they face the possibility of a complete trade shutdown, with both sides seemingly preparing for long-term economic strife.

Intro

3min

Navigating U.S.-China Trade Tensions

11min

Unpacking the Economic Power Dynamics Between the U.S. and China

4min

Shifting Financial Alliances: China and the Challenge to Dollar Dominance

6min

China's Defiant Stand Against U.S. Trade Actions

3min

Trump, Mao, and the Clash of Cultures

16min

A big part of Donald Trump’s global tariff regime targets the Chinese economy in a bid, he says, to force the country into a deal favorable to the United States. Despite this, officials in China have been undeterred — claiming that tariffs will hurt Americans more than Chinese, and drawing comparison between the actions of Donald Trump and Mao Zedong’s ‘cultural revolution.’

Chinese officials have also responded to Donald Trump’s tariff program saying, in part: “if war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end."

David Rennie is a columnist with The Economist, where he formerly worked as the magazine’s Beijing correspondent. He joins us for a conversation about the China-U.S. relationship, why officials in China view Trump as a ‘revolutionary’ figure, and this as a one of the great moments of opportunity in China’s modern history.

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Front Burner

When China and the U.S. fight, who wins?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Intensifying Trade War

China's Strategic Stance

America's Manufacturing Decline

Cultural Perspectives and National Identity

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts