China and Trade in 2028
U.S.-China economic and security competition, tariffs, technology decoupling, and the trade deficit.
The U.S.-China relationship has become the central geopolitical competition of the era, encompassing trade policy, technology, military posture in the Pacific, and competing visions of the international order. Both parties moved toward a more hawkish posture on China during the 2020s, but with different emphases.
Trade with China involves a complex interdependence - the U.S. imports enormous quantities of Chinese goods while also seeking to limit China's access to advanced technology and semiconductors. Tariffs imposed in the 2017-2021 period were largely maintained by subsequent administrations.
Taiwan remains a flashpoint, with China asserting territorial claims and the U.S. maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity about whether it would defend the island militarily.
Why it matters in 2028
Great-power competition with China is likely to intensify regardless of who is president in 2028. Candidates will be judged on how they balance economic interdependence with strategic competition, how they handle Taiwan, and how they frame the relationship to American workers concerned about jobs and supply chains.
How each party frames china and trade
A neutral summary of each party's general governing approach. Individual 2028 candidates will differ - no nominee has been chosen yet.
Democratic approach
Democrats broadly favor a competitive but managed relationship with China, emphasizing alliances with Asian partners, investment in domestic semiconductor and technology manufacturing, and selective decoupling on strategic goods. Many in the party support maintaining or renegotiating trade frameworks rather than a broad tariff approach. Democrats often emphasize multilateral pressure through allies as a more effective tool than unilateral tariffs.
Republican approach
Republicans broadly favor a more confrontational posture toward China on trade and security, including high tariffs, technology decoupling, and more explicit commitments to Taiwan. The party tends to emphasize reducing U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains as both an economic and national security imperative. There is some variation within the party on how far decoupling should go and how to balance economic costs with strategic goals.
What voters ask about china and trade
- Would candidates raise or lower tariffs on Chinese goods?
- What would candidates do to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression?
- How would candidates reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese supply chains?
- Is the U.S. in a new Cold War with China?
- How does China policy affect American jobs and manufacturing?
Other 2028 issues
How 2028 candidates plan to manage economic growth, consumer prices, and the cost of living.
Border enforcement, legal immigration pathways, and the future of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
Federal and state abortion policy after the Supreme Court returned the issue to state legislatures in 2022.
Health insurance coverage, drug prices, and the long-running debate over the structure of the American health system.
Federal tax policy, including the expiring provisions of the 2017 tax law and disputes over who pays what.
Employment levels, minimum wage, union rights, and the future of work in an era of automation and AI.