As the trade war between the US and China evolves and escalates, many are beginning to question the broader economic and geopolitical significance of the dispute in both the short and long term.

On one side of the debate, the risks of a trade war seem overstated and would have limited effects on the growth of the US economy. On the other side, the concerns are real and pose a significant long-term threat to the US and other economies around the world. 

In episode 10, Jeff Meli, Head of Research, and Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Head of Macro Research, discuss the direct and indirect economic effects of US-China trade tensions, the subsequent stock market volatility – and most critically – the competitive tensions stemming from each country’s quest to lead innovation globally over the next 20 to 30 years as 5G technology goes mainstream. As Jeff and Ajay debate, what started as a trade war is possibly becoming a proxy war for securing long-term dominance in technology, with each side using its strategic leverage.