While today's global trade war may seem like a radical break from the established system of inter-state relations, history shows that states have been fighting trade wars as long as there have been states, trade, and war. The current rivalry between the United States and China is among the most pressing contemporary issues that may define international relations for the next decade. Craig VanGrasstek's On Trade War explains the theory and practice of trade war, placing the current conflict in an analytical framework that provides insights from history, political science, economics, and law. Pioneering a new way of examining trade and military relations between states, VanGrasstek's analysis identifies patterns from past trade wars that may shape our future.
‘Even the greatest among great powers need allies, especially at a time of heightened rivalry. The historical cases presented here, from ancient times to our post-post-Cold War world, underline the need to maintain a transatlantic partnership that is based not just on raw interests but on shared values.’
Arancha González - Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs and former Spanish Foreign Minister
‘The global trading system already confronted serious headwinds when Craig VanGrasstek wrote our official history, and they have lately grown to hurricane force. Like a weatherman informing a frightened public, he clearly explains the causes and risks of this whirlwind.’
Pascal Lamy - former Director-General of the World Trade Organization
‘This breathtaking book provides what we sorely missed, offering a timely and thoughtful analysis of the profound transformations we are daily witnessing in the global trading system. It examines what this revolution means for the broader architecture of international organization, and will long remain the indispensable reference in the field.’
Rubens Ricupero - former UNCTAD Secretary-General
‘This sweeping account of trade wars through history is especially valuable as the United States and China launch a new and probably long battle. VanGrasstek's documentation is a gold mine, and his analysis contains lessons for scholars and diplomats alike.’
Gary Hufbauer - Peterson Institute for International Economics
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