As we've delved into time and time again throughout class, globalization is inevitable. The United States was essentially built off of the idea of globalization in the sense that humanity expanded westward to discover the ever-so-prosperous North American lands. America is structured through a melting pot of innovation and outside influence. Although many Americans stand around individualism and patriotism of our seemingly flourishing country, our entire bubble of the US comes from different cultures and is very much supported through other county's recourses. We see this in almost every industry. From fast fashion to electronics to agriculture, we as Americans rely on our relations with other countries to supply us with cheap goods in an efficient manner.
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| Workers at a Chinese Solar Panel Manufacturing Company http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42784380 |
Their is a lot of blindness to how these sort of changes effect the US internally as well as externally. As stated previously, the US is built on globalization. If we start cutting out external players, such as the Chinese solar panel market, it will most likely act as a negative domino effect of losing relations, harming country's economies and possibly causing harmful feuds between the US and previously communal countries. There has already been a fairly notable uproar on how many jobs will be lost within the US. This happens from jobs within the US being part of the importation and production side of international countries who are already losing business and market share to solely US made companies. All of these changes are part of Trump's initial promise to put 'America First', introduced during his presidential campaign in 2016. Are we truly putting America First if it leads to the instability of global relations? Maintaining strong international relationships is where the US needs to stand and focus on.
According to The New York Times, much of these seemingly economically boosting moves set in place by our republican cabinet are majorly benefitting the corporate elite in the US (The Editorial Board, 2018). How are these regulations so broadly supported when such a small percentage of our country actually benefits from them? Yes, it is true that the largest corporations such as Apple will pour over $38 billion back into the US economy to build US manufacturing plants and several new Apple campuses, although what does that do to manufacturing plants that helped develop the economy of third world villages? Pulling economically boosting plants from these developing countries and pouring the jobs and money back into the US could make the inequality of wealth throughout the globe even greater. The unequal distribution of wealth is a threat to our global economy and leads to civil inequality that is seemingly irreversible in many places.
The US needs to show its global roots and instead of pushing other countries out of our economy, introduce ways to work together. Educating our next generation to become global citizens is the most beneficial way we can grow as a globe.
References
Gonzales, R. (2018). Trump Slaps Tariffs on Imported Solar Panels and Washing Machines. Northwest Public Broadcasting. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/22/579848409/trump-slaps-tariffs-on-imported-solar-panels-and-washing-machines
Keating, D. (2018). Donald Trump isn't the only Solar Power Protectionist. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
http://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-isnt-the-only-solar-power-protectionist/a-42322107
The Editorial Board. (2018). Are Corporate Tax Cuts Raising pay? Yes, For Bosses. The New York Times. Retrieved 28, 2018.
(2018). US Slaps 'America First' Tariffs on Washing Machines and Solar Panels. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42784380
I definitely agree that America relies on product exchange relationships with other countries more than many people realize. Especially in our increasingly globally connected world, maintaining positive relationships is more important than ever. Shutting ourselves off from the rest of the world is not a sustainable decision, and I agree that educating the next generation on the importance of positive international relationships is really important for our own country and the global future.
ReplyDeleteYou make some excellent points here when relating internal economic policy to a global scale and how these policies and tariffs impact international relations. I think you're right when you say that the U.S. is heavily reliant on the outside world and that our past, culture, and success are heavily rooted in the efforts put forth by not only third world countries but more advanced countries as well. It's extremely important that as we structure our economy, society, and government internally that we keep in mind the influence it has on the outside world and to the countries that have supported us for decades.
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