Are declining US-China trade and investment flows ending globalization?
Core argument: Bilateral U.S.–China trade has slowed relative to global trade, while protectionist measures have produced some reshoring of final production stages alongside rerouting of trade through third countries.
Bilateral trade between the world’s two largest economies has been slowing relative to global trade. Protectionist measures have led to some reshoring of the final stages of production but also to rerouting of trade through third countries. Capital and foreign direct investment flows between the U.S. and China have declined precipitously due to a combination of government controls and political uncertainties. But the fact that total U.S. inward and outward FDI has remained buoyant points to the existence foreign investment diversion to other countries. Likewise, China, even while investing less in the United States, has been ramping up investment in and running growing trade surpluses with countries like Vietnam and Mexico that export significant volumes to the United States, including conceivably goods produced using Chinese parts, components, and technology. In sum, U.S.-China tensions have led to some loosening of economic links between the two countries but not to the end of globalization. The governments in question have accepted this deterioration in efficiency in return for what they hope will be an improvement in national security.


