logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2020
18m 51s

Trading with the USA

Bbc World Service
About this episode

When President Trump came to power in 2016 he vowed he would scrap the international trade agreements he believed had cost a huge number of US jobs, and declared his intent to tip the trade balance back in America's favour. He wanted to take on China and what he saw as its dominance in the global marketplace.

How has this 'America First' policy worked out in the ensuing four years, and what has it meant for the US's trading partners?

As part of our look at the US elections 2020: and What the World Wants, Manuela Saragosa examines whether President Trump has succeeded in his aim, and she finds out what companies from China to Canada hope will come out of the next presidency. Manuela talks to Herbert Lun, managing director of Wing Sang electrical, whose factory is in China's Pearl River Delta. He produces electronic hair products for the American market - how has his business coped with the threat of US tariffs? While Mark Rowlinson, counsel at the United Steelworkers of Canada, tells Manuela that tariffs have brought some Canadian steel and aluminium producers - operating in an already very tight market - to the edge of bankruptcy.

The BBC's economics correspondent, Andrew Walker, is on hand to provide context and analysis throughout, and you can read more on the BBC website and hear more about the USA and the rest of the world, across the World Service this week.

Manuela and her guests also consider the alternative to President Trump - a Joe Biden presidency - and whether that would make it any easier to do business with the US. There might be a change of tone, but would he actually dismantle the protectionist policies of the last four years?

Picture: Trump Tower in New York. Credit: Getty

Up next
Yesterday
The impact of 'thirsty' data centres
We're in the US state of Georgia, where huge data centres need water to keep cool. But how is this need for cloud storage and AI capability affecting local residents and the environment?Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez(Image: Georgia resident Beverly Morris l ... Show More
17m 50s
Jul 8
Does university still get you a well-paid job?
Graduates are facing one of the toughest jobs markets in decades. We hear from students in India, the US and UK about whether they feel a university or college degree is worth it as we discuss the cost of attending university around the world and what your job prospects might be ... Show More
17m 27s
Jul 7
Returning to Ukraine?
The UN estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians have left their home country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many have set up businesses in their new country - around 90,000 of those in Poland. We hear about the challenges they’ve faced, and the sectors ... Show More
17m 30s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
The Narrow Scope of US Tariffs on China
Our Global Head of Fixed Income and Thematic Research explains that the Biden administration’s new tariffs on Chinese imports are narrower than those of 2018 and 2019, but still send a signal about the economic relationship between the US and China. ----- Transcript ----- Welcome ... Show More
2m 57s
Nov 2020
The Fashion Industry Unpacks the US Election
The BoF team and industry experts Sharifa Murdock and Stephen Lamar discuss what the close vote means for the future of fashion.   LONDON, United Kingdom — Election night ended in the US without a clear answer as to who will lead the country for the next four years. And though fo ... Show More
50m 21s
Aug 2022
US and Taiwan to hold trade talks
Washington announces negotiations to ease trade barriers with the self-ruled island amid tensions with China. The talks will focus on areas such as e-commerce and agriculture. We hear more from Scott Kennedy, senior advisor in Chinese business & economics at CSIS. The Trump Organ ... Show More
26m 33s
Nov 2022
Why The United States No Longer Leads on Free Trade
Chris, Melanie, and Zack try to understand the U.S. government’s approach to global trade. Two successive presidential administrations have turned their backs on trade liberalization, and there is little enthusiasm in Congress for free trade – and a fair amount of outright hostil ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2019
Surveillance: Trade Talks Are Unpredictable, Hewson Says
David Page, AXA Investment Managers U.S. & U.K. Senior Economist, says there is a small risk of a Fed cut in two weeks. Stephanie Baker, Bloomberg News Senior Writer, updates us on trade negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico. Victoria Hewson, Institute of Economic Affairs Seni ... Show More
30m 12s
Nov 2023
A Turning Point for Global Trade
International trade has shaped the world for much of the past century. Countries benefited from the global flow of goods, and the world became richer and safer. At the same time, many Americans lost their jobs to cheaper overseas competitors. Now, a series of compounding challeng ... Show More
40m 12s
Mar 2015
USA
The final stop on our six country tour is America, where we ask whether the famous land of opportunity still lives up to its promise. As the American dream has been exported throughout the world, does it still apply to people building their businesses here? Marketplace's Lizzie O ... Show More
49m 43s
Apr 2024
European Markets React to Upcoming U.S. Election
As the U.S. presidential election remains closely contested, our experts discuss what a change in administration could mean for European equities in terms of trade, China relations and other key issues. ----- Transcript ----- Michael Zezas: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm ... Show More
8m 58s