Maxwell School News and Commentary

"If there’s going to be some type of rapprochement with China on this [trade deals], there’s going to have to be negotiations before that between the Chinese and the Americans that deescalate the conflict and result in some other wins from both sides," says Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

"RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] gives foreign companies enhanced flexibility in navigating between the two giants," says Professor of Economics Mary Lovely. "Lower tariffs within the region increases the value of operating within the Asian region, while the uniform rules of origin make it easier to pull production away from the Chinese mainland while retaining that access."

"The choice for Biden is clear," says Mary Lovely, professor of economics. "Return the U.S. to the Trans-Pacific Partnership to ensure access for U.S. companies."

"The Trumpers have this idea that we‘re going to bring supply chains back home, and that is not going to happen, so where are we going?" Many Americans "don’t want to deal with a communist country that they don’t understand, with human rights positions they don’t approve of, to put it mildly," says Mary Lovely, professor of economics. 

"Most Americans do not necessarily view their problems with China as having much to do with their problems domestically," says Yingyi Ma, associate professor of sociology, for the  South China Morning Post.

"I worry that this potentially undermines Chinese students’ learning opportunities," says Yingyi Ma, associate professor of sociology, about U.S. university faculty members suggesting that Chinese students wait to enroll in certain courses until they can return to campus for in-person instruction.

The torrent of anti-Chinese rhetoric by the Trump administration recently has been countered by much softer actions, as the administration attempts to "thread the needle" of looking tough heading into the election while having the Chinese continue to purchase U.S. goods, says Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

University Professor Jim Steinberg analyzes, "the United States—for a long time—has viewed India through highly instrumental lenses...the question is, whether that will now change, and whether India will be more willing to be a partner with the United States in an across the board, new Cold War with China."

"Even if they buy huge amounts, they’re not going to be on target," says Professor Mary Lovely about U.S. exports to China.

Dimitar Gueorguiev, assistant professor of political science, and his co-authors, emphasizes the need to protect data security, provide risk disclosure to students, promote open discussion while ensuring student safety, respect instructor autonomy, and offer support and guidance to students and faculty facing repercussions for engaging in sensitive content.