The Great Rivalry: The U.S. and China - Hot Rivalry or Cold War?
August 14, 2020
How friction with China could bring potential opportunities for investors
![Textured red canyon walls](/content/dam/ust/articles/bodyimages/BoG-627437-Chapter-6-818x440.jpg)
AMID RISING TARIFFS AND AN INCREASINGLY FURIOUS RACE for technological supremacy, “economic frictions between the U.S. and China have reached a boiling point,” says Ehiwario Efeyini, Director and Senior Market Strategy Analyst, Chief Investment Office (CIO), Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank.
The coronavirus has only aggravated trade tensions that have been building for years, according to a new report from the CIO, “The Great Rivalry: A New U.S.-China Cold War?”, co-authored by Efeyini and investment strategist Rodrigo Serrano, Chief Investment Office, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank. As one example, U.S. officials on August 6 announced restrictions on two Chinese-owned social media platforms that they believe could potentially be used to gather information on American citizens.1
“Ideological differences persist on a range of questions from data security to online censorship, domestic surveillance and the status of Hong Kong.”
— Director and Senior Market Strategy Analyst, Chief Investment Office, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank
Where the rivalry stands right now
The U.S. remains the world’s largest economy and still holds the advantage in several key areas, such as semiconductor chip design, controlling 45% of the global market, compared with China’s 5%.2 But China, which a decade ago passed the United States as the world’s top manufacturing country, holds the lead in categories ranging from electric vehicles to the number of biotechnology research papers produced each year.
China’s astonishing rise has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty and made the country a major player on the world’s economic stage, with investments in development across Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East, according to “The Great Rivalry” report. Yet U.S. officials charge that Chinese companies have benefited unfairly from government subsidies and low-cost loans from state-controlled banks, and that the country has flouted international trade rules and failed to make necessary political changes. “Ideological differences persist on a range of questions from data security to online censorship, domestic surveillance and the status of Hong Kong,” Efeyini says.
Yet, in contrast to the U.S.-Soviet cold war that dominated global geopolitics in the late 20th century, “China and the U.S. today have high levels of interdependence on trade, investments and financial markets,” Efeyini adds. Thus, while the rivalry is likely to intensify over the next decade, with more U.S. companies pulling back from ties with Chinese suppliers in favor of supply chains closer to home, an all-out cold war would involve a complex “decoupling” process that would be costly for both countries.
“While the intensifying rivalry between the world’s two largest economies poses risks of greater market volatility, it also represents potential investment opportunities.”
— Chief Investment Officer for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank
Opportunities to consider amid the tensions
“While the intensifying rivalry between the world’s two largest economies poses risks of greater market volatility during the 2020s, it also represents potential investment opportunities,” says Chris Hyzy, Chief Investment Officer for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank.
“Prolonged competition for technological leadership is likely to involve greater levels of government support for investment in research and innovation,” he adds. “For investors, this should mean long-term growth opportunities across biotechnology and life sciences, vehicles and battery technology, as well as hardware applications for semiconductors, such as telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, cloud servers and industrial robots.” An intensified rivalry may also mean greater research and spending in the defense sector.
As you consider your long-term goals, speak with your financial advisor about whether investments in any of these areas could make sense as part of a balanced portfolio, Hyzy suggests.
1 “Trump Targets WeChat and TikTok, in Sharp Escalation With China,” The New York Times, August 6, 2020.
2 Semiconductor Industry Association; International Energy Agency; The TOP500 Project; Scopus database. Data as of 2019.
Information is as of 08/14/2020.
Opinions are those of the author(s), as of the date of this document and are subject to change.
Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.
Investments in a certain industry or sector may pose additional risk due to lack of diversification and sector concentration.
Investments in foreign securities (including ADRs) involve special risks, including foreign currency risk and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks are magnified for investments made in emerging markets.