There are moments in history when nations lose their way not because of sudden defeat, but because of small choices that add up over time. For the United States and its allies, the past two decades of trade with China represent exactly that: a slow and steady path toward dependence. The question now is, where are we going wrong, and why does it keep giving China the lead?
First, we believed that free trade would always benefit both sides. The assumption was that by opening markets, we would build prosperity everywhere, and that prosperity would bring openness. When China entered the World Trade Organization in 2001, it was with this faith. But instead of opening, Beijing doubled down on central control. It used access to Western markets to expand exports, accumulate reserves, and build influence—all while restricting foreign access at home.
Second, we underestimated the role of subsidies, currency policies, and state planning. Democracies run on short-term cycles, where elections and profits drive decision-making. China runs on long-term planning, with entire industries supported for years until they dominate global markets. From steel to solar panels to electronics, Western companies faced competitors backed not by market logic, but by state resources.
Third, we ignored the consequences of hollowing out domestic industries. Entire regions in the U.S.—the so-called manufacturing heartland—lost jobs as companies sought cheaper production abroad. While consumers enjoyed lower prices, the long-term cost was industrial decline and strategic vulnerability. China gained more than a market edge; it gained leverage over global supply chains.
Fourth, we failed to act when warnings became clear. Year after year, experts pointed to imbalances. Yet policymakers hesitated, corporations lobbied against change, and half-measures like tariffs failed to fix the problem. Each year of delay widened the gap and gave China more momentum.
So here we are in 2025, watching China sustain GDP growth near five percent even amid internal weaknesses, while the U.S. debates policies that still lack clarity. The imbalance is not just economic. It is about power. The more we enrich China through trade, the more influence it gains globally, from Belt and Road partnerships to its growing military strength.
So, are we ready to correct course? Do we have the political will to create a system of Equal Trade, where imports and exports balance? Do we have the patience to endure short-term challenges for long-term security? And will Europe, despite its reluctance, join the U.S. in this effort or continue in shortsighted complacency?
Edouard Prisse makes it clear in We Were Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! that China’s enrichment through one-sided trade is the single greatest threat to the survival of democratic societies. The time for illusions is over. The time for real action is now.
This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how we reached this point and how to find a way back. It does not just diagnose the problem. Rather, this book shows the path forward, if only we have the courage to take it.
Read the book to know the answer and to take action before it is too late.
Here is a link to purchase: www.amazon.com/dp/1967963053.
We Were Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! by Edouard Prisse is a sharp, well-researched examination of how decades of misguided free trade with China have fueled the rise of America’s greatest rival. Drawing on the economic insights of John Maynard Keynes, Prisse explains how the 2001 decision to welcome China into the global trade system created a one-sided relationship that drained Western industries while empowering Beijing’s authoritarian regime. The book not only exposes the dangers of this ongoing imbalance—job losses, weakened manufacturing, and growing geopolitical risks—but also offers a clear solution: shifting from “free trade” to “Equal Trade,” a value-balanced system that ensures reciprocity and protects democracy. Both a warning and a roadmap, this book is essential reading for policymakers, business leaders, economists, and citizens who care about safeguarding the future of free societies.
