The President’s Inbox
The U.S.-China Trade War, With Zoe Liu
May 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Zoe Liu, a senior fellow specializing in China studies, dives into the complexities of the U.S.-China trade war. She outlines China's strategic responses to tariff hikes and explains the economic anxieties stemming from these tensions. Liu also sheds light on the historical narrative of China's 'century of national humiliation' and its impact on current leadership. The conversation explores the resilience of the Chinese economy, particularly the role of small enterprises, as well as the challenges multinationals face in this evolving landscape.
34:01
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The U.S.-China trade war is characterized by substantial tariffs and declining bilateral trade, leading to significant adjustments in export strategies for Chinese companies.
- China's historical narrative of the 'century of humiliation' influences its current trade policies, prompting a resilient stance against U.S. tariffs under President Xi Jinping.
Deep dives
Significance of Trade Tariffs
The current trade war between the United States and China involves steep tariffs, with U.S. tariffs reaching 145% on most Chinese goods and China imposing 125% on most American goods. This is significant considering that both countries are major trading partners; the U.S. is China's largest trading partner, while China ranks third for the U.S. It's noted that since 2018, bilateral trade has slowly declined, with the U.S. share of Chinese exports dropping from 18% to 15%. Despite the decrease in direct trade, indirect trade through other countries has risen, illustrating a shift in how Chinese companies are managing to maintain their exports.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
