Abstract

The paper analyzes major trade and economic trends of US and China conflicts from the perspectives of International Relations’ theories. USA and China are major world powers in terms of politics, economics, and military. Because of their economies’ scale and importance in global trade, their domestic policies, and their policies toward one another, have major external consequences and influence. The trade conflict between Washington and Beijing began in the middle of 2018, when each country imposed additional tariffs on imports. Since then, tensions have only grown—both sides are taking new responses. The paper comparatively illustrates US policy toward China based on Trump and Biden administrations.

Keywords: IR theories, Trade war, Realism/Neorealism, Liberalism/Neoliberalism, Marxism/Neomarxism, Constructivism