China has recently been in the news due to the tense trading situation between China and the United States. Last Wednesday, President Trump signed a trade deal with China in an attempt to ease the tension between the two countries. Both China and the United States’ economies are some of the world’s largest. In the agreement, China agreed to buy an extra $200 billion of American goods by 2021 and ease up on the tariffs on American goods. However, the United States will still keep tariffs on Chinese goods. President Trump hopes to do further dealings with China to remove all tariffs.
This trade issue reminded me of the short story, “After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town.” This story follows the struggles and realizations of Chinese workers employed at an American restaurant. The story details many ways that dealings in China and America are done differently. It also emphasizes how the economies are intertwined. On page 185, a cultural clash between business proceedings in the U.S. and China occurs, “We didn’t need a cheap customer like this one and should throw him out. Mr. Sharpiro said we ought to follow the American way of doing business- you must try to satisfy your customers” (Ha Jin). Another passage that illustrates how the two countries work with each other is on page 187, “It used Chinese produce, and labor and made money out of Chinese customers, then shipped its profits back to the U.S.” (Ha Jin). This line shows how this business was exploiting China to gain profits in the U.S. and help its economy.
Nevertheless, the employees being paid spend money in China which stimulates their economy and creates a relationship between both countries. In “An Entrepreneur’s Story,” there are less obvious connections to the trade war, but there are still connections between people’s reactions to money. In this story, a young man creates a successful business, and it changes the attitudes of the people around him, “Money is a funny thing. It can change your personality. No, not that you actually change inside, but the people around you change their attitudes about you” (Ha Jin 120). The view of money and success going hand in hand is a concept that is also seen in America. There is a deep respect in America for entrepreneurs and people who have created businesses from the ground up. The attitudes in this story remind me of attitudes in America when it comes to money. Overall, there are many links between America and China when it comes to money. These connections can be seen in the news and in these stories.