The US-China Trade War: Hard Implications of a Soft War

Muhammad Ali Baig; Dost Muhammad Barrech; Dr. Talat Shabbir

doi:10.61732/bj.v2i1.41

Authors

Muhammad Ali Baig Reseach Fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9818-2532
Dost Muhammad Barrech Lecturer at the University of Balochistan, Pakistan.
Dr. Talat Shabbir Dr. Talat Shabbir is Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at Institute of strategic studies Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61732/bj.v2i1.41

Abstract

The end of the Cold War reinforced the term globalisation, where states became more intertwined economically, tilted towards consolidation of their economic ties. However, great power politics kept in gaining buoyancy in the international relations; resultantly, the United States initiated and later amplified its trade with China. Hitherto, the latter became the second largest trade partner of the former. During the last couple of years, such ties between the two witnessed a turbulent trajectory. However, America under Trump administration, accused China of raping the US economy, being an unfair trade partner, and spattered of becoming a currency manipulator. To minimize and equalize the trade deficit that reached almost 345.6 billion USD in 2019, the Trump administration initiated a unique trade war between the two great economies; consequently, such policy decisions remained one of the hottest issues in international politics. The Trump Doctrine hinged upon America First; and the imposition of strict tariffs on numerous Chinese products, surprised the international commentators and economists. The article intends to probe the strategic context of the US-China Trade War and the implications of such on a global level. It also explores continuity of the same under the Biden administration. It tentatively provided a way forward for both great powers as well.

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Author Biographies

Muhammad Ali Baig, Reseach Fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Pakistan.

The author is a Research Fellow (BPS-18) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Pakistan. He is a Ph.D. scholar and a distinguished graduate of National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, Pakistan. He possesses an M.Phil. in International Relations from NDU with Distinction and a Merit Certificate from the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He possesses an M.Sc. in International Relations from NDU with Distinction, and Master’s degrees in Political Science (University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan), English (Linguistics and Literature) (COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan), and History (University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan). He also writes for The Nation, Daily Times, Pakistan Observer, and Pakistan Today. He co-authored the book Realism and Exceptionalism in U.S. Foreign Policy: From Kissinger to Kerry (2020). He can be contacted at mmab11@gmail.com and alibaig@issi.org.pk ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9818-2532.

Dost Muhammad Barrech, Lecturer at the University of Balochistan, Pakistan.

The author is a Doctoral candidate at the International Islamic University Islamabad, and serving as a Lecturer at the University of Balochistan, Pakistan.

Dr. Talat Shabbir, Dr. Talat Shabbir is Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at Institute of strategic studies Islamabad, Pakistan

Dr. Talat Shabbir is Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at Institute of strategic studies Islamabad, where he oversees research and advocacy on all facets of Pakistan-China relations. He holds PhD in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He has MPhil in International Relations from University of Karachi, Masters in International Relations from University of Balochistan and Masters in Political Science from University of Punjab. His research areas are Pakistan, South Asia, Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC and Pakistan-China relations. Dr. Talat has been a visiting scholar at Sigur Centre for Asian Studies, George Washington University, USA. He has been on the faculty of Institute of Strategic Studies Research and Analysis (ISSRA), National Defence University (NDU) where he was assigned to conduct national security workshop and national media workshop. Besides editing the Strategic Studies, the HEC recognized journal of Institute of Strategic Studies, he is Chief Editor of Quarterly PIVOT Magazine of the Institute. He regularly contributes to national as well as international newspapers on issues of domestic, regional and global political issues and participates in panel discussions on various TV channels focusing on issues impacting Pakistan. Dr. Talat Shabbir has authored a book titled “Creating Shared Futures, Pakistan-China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship” and has edited a book titled “Higher than Karakoram: Seven Decades of Pakistan-China Partnership”. Besides, Dr. Talat also has literary interests and has three books to his credit, a book of short stories and two books are collection of his select poetry. Dr. Talat Shabbir has diverse experience of management, administration, public relations, advocacy, HR and media.

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