DEALING WITH THE DRAGON: AMERICAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA

America's relationship with China will shape the global economy of the 21st century. Whether the world's largest economy and its fastest-growing one co-operate or clash will have far-reaching implications - on the global trade regime, on the pace of economic growth, on the world's energy profile, and the efforts to stem global warming. Unfortunately, frustration with China is rising fast in Congress. Recent fears about the safety of Chinese products have fuelled long-standing concerns about the country's trade practices. China is widely accused of being an unfair trader, a country that gains an advantage over its competitors by manipulating its currency and ignoring intellectual property rights. Bills that would allow tariffs to be imposed against Chinese products have passed important Congressional committees and could soon become law. In this presentation, Ms. Minton Beddoes analyzes these tensions and challenges. She examines whether China poses an economic threat to the United States and whether Beijing breaks the rules of global commerce. She assesses the scale of sinophobia in Washington, as well as the risks and consequences of a trade war.