"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

Comparing Trump, Biden, and Obama's China Strategies

Oct 18, 2024

Dive into the ever-changing landscape of U.S.-China relations over the past two decades. Discover how Obama's engagement strategy differs from Trump's confrontational turn. Explore Biden's attempts to navigate these complex waters with a constructive approach. Uncover the financial challenges Trump faces and how they impact his political stance on China, alongside China's historical influence on dissenting voices. It's a riveting exploration of past and present policies that shapes the future of international relations.

12:49

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Quick takeaways

Obama's engagement strategy towards China aimed for democratisation but ultimately failed, contrasting sharply with Trump's confrontational approach that unified bipartisan support against China.

Biden's policy seeks to constructively build on Trump's framework by implementing higher tariffs and enhanced industrial policies to strengthen the U.S. position against China.

Deep dives

Evolving U.S. Policy Towards China

The approach of the United States towards China has undergone significant transformations across the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. Obama initially aimed for engagement, believing that increased interaction would lead China towards a more open and democratic society, though this strategy ultimately failed to achieve its goals. Trump's presidency marked a shift towards a confrontational stance, promoting tariffs and export controls while making anti-China sentiment a bipartisan issue. This shift disrupted the previous framework, with Biden then attempting to construct a new policy landscape that builds on Trump's foundation, advocating for higher tariffs and strengthened industrial policy.

Intro

4min

The Dynamics of Presidential Tag Teams in Shaping China Policy

2min

Trump's Financial Dynamics and Political Strategies Towards China

4min

Noah Smith breaks down the last two decades of US-China policy shifts - and where we go from here in anticipation of the November election. Let us know if you like these short-form Econ 102 friday bonus episodes by emailing econ102@turpentine.co.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:18) Evolutions on America's approach to China

(02:08) Obama's engagement strategy with China

(03:07) Trump's paradigm shift in China policy

(04:14) Biden's constructive approach to China policy s

(06:02) Discussion on Trump's financial situation

(07:09) China's history of influencing critics

(08:11) Sponsor: GiveWell

(09:21) Outro

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