On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, an academic seminar (the “Seminar”) organized by the Faculty Affairs Office was successfully held in Conference Room 622. Professor Vincent Yao, Chair Professor at the Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, was invited to deliver a compelling presentation titled The U.S.-China Trade War: Origins, Policies, and Implications. Attendees included experts such asQIU Jiaping, Vice Dean of Dishui Lake Advanced Finance Institute, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE-DAFI), young faculty members, and graduate students of SUFE-DAFI.
Professor YAO opened the Seminar by focusing on the “China Shock” and the polarization of the U.S. labor market, explaining how the economics community had studied imports’ impact on America’s domestic manufacturing, employment, and even public sentiment. Citing a range of authoritative empirical studies, he noted that competition from Chinese products not only eliminated jobs in U.S. manufacturing but also heightened employment insecurity among low-skilled workers, ultimately fueling a more pronounced trend of political polarization.
Next, Professor Yao walked through three key phases of U.S. trade policy: the “decoupling” strategy during Trump’s first presidential term, the Biden administration’s “de-risking” approach, and the hypothetical aggressive trade measures likely to be rolled out in Trump’s second term, including sweeping tariff hikes and supply chain overhauls.
When discussing companies’ response strategies, Professor YAO stressed the importance and necessity of domestic circulation. He argued that companies must adapt to the distinct domestic circulation systems of China and the U.S., outlining core actions: strengthening product differentiation and brand building, advancing supply chain localization, and tightening compliance with data and intellectual property rules.
The Seminar received enthusiastic feedback. Attendees widely agreed that Professor Yao’s clear, accessible explanation had given them a more holistic understanding of the logic behind the evolution of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, as well as its implications for corporate strategies. This session also deepened the forum’s cross-disciplinary focus on “Finance + Geopolitics”, helping young scholars and students better grasp the pulse of the times and expand their global vision.
