Exploring the US-China Trade Convergence

On September 24, 2025, Dr. Elizabeth Ingleson, historian and Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics, delivered an insightful talk on her book Made in China: When US-China Interests Converged to Transform Global Trade to an engaged audience. 

Hosted jointly by The Murrow Center and The Institute for Business in the Global Context (IBGC), the event examined how US-China trade relations shifted in the 1970s, marking the beginning of a new economic dynamic prioritizing outsourced manufacturing over exports. Ingleson explored how US capitalists and the Chinese state found common ground, often at the expense of American labor, reshaping the global economy with lasting implications for modern trade.

Drawing from her extensive research, Ingleson highlighted the pivotal role of US diplomats in redefining the meaning of trade, moving from the long-held vision of China’s “400 million customers” to its workforce of 800 million. The thought-provoking discussion gave attendees an understanding of the economic forces that continue to shape US-China relations today.