Finger-Pointing

“I think the doctrine of free trade is an outstanding one. The free trade doctrine has propelled the economies of Europe and the US to a soaring path of development over the past 200 years. It has also been a doctrine that Europe and America have propagated as a glorious doctrine. They have brandished the banner of free trade and gone around the world doing commerce and making money, and becoming developed countries. But now that a developing country that is quiet poor and has a GDP per capita of only one-thirtieth of theirs has found a few textile companies that can finally compete with the Europeans counterparts, they want to close their doors and engage in protectionism. This, in fact, is a double standard. When they had a comparative advantage, they encourages the whole world to open their doors, but when they discover that one developing country is becoming more competitive, they say ‘OK, enough. Let’s close the door now.’”

May 2005, Bo Xilai, Chinese Minister of Commerce interview with BBC Beijing.

The current recession excited high tensions between China and America. Since 2008, they each dragged the other to the WTO thrice. The year 2009 has seen numerous demands from America against China of anti-dumping investigations, followed by accusation of unfair protectionism.
Chinese exporters have government base support, which America does not provide for their exporters. This creates an advantage despised by Americans; Chevron Vice-President Peter Robertson spoke for many: “We are not competing with a company. We are competing with the Chinese government. I think it is wrong.”

Both countries created a strong venomous snake with a hobby of tail-catching.