Should the U.S. Decouple From China?, A DebateShould the U.S. Decouple From China?, A Debate

As globalization spread in the 21st century, China became a central node in worldwide supply chains and a primary trading partner with the United States. By 2024, the trade value between the two countries totaled around {20}583 billion, making their economies interdependent. China's rising wealth and influence, however, have stoked concerns that China's growing strength and the economic interdependence of the two countries threatens U.S. power and hegemony. To address these concerns, some believe that the United States should decouple from China. Decoupling would make U.S. manufacturing less reliant on Chinese supply chains, they argue, and boost American industry. It would also, they contend, give the United States more leverage in addressing China's military expansion and threats toward Taiwan, the island nation China has long claimed as part of its territory. Those who oppose decoupling argue that it would hurt global markets and harm American businesses, particularly in agriculture, retail, and tech, which depend on China as a supplier or customer. Reducing economic ties, opponents contend, could also slow innovation, undermine global progress on shared challenges, and drive China further into alliances with America's strategic rivals. Should the U.S. decouple from China?