GM102: China Built a Trap. Germany Set It. America Fell In. Europe Is Next ft. Michael Pettis

Michael Pettis joins Alan Dunne for a wide ranging conversation on trade imbalances, globalization and the future of the world economy. Drawing on decades of research into China, Europe and financial history, Pettis argues that persistent trade surpluses are ultimately rooted in domestic income imbalances rather than national competitiveness. The discussion explores why China struggles to rebalance, why Europe may face its biggest challenge yet, and how US reindustrialization could reshape global trade. From Bretton Woods to modern tariffs, this episode offers a provocative framework for understanding the forces driving the next phase of the global economy.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to [email protected] please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Alan on LinkedIn.Follow Michael on X.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Michael Pettis warns that the real trade reckoning may still lie ahead01:07 - Introduction to Michael Pettis and his background in finance and economics06:34 - Why trade imbalances are ultimately driven by income imbalances09:59 - Germany’s Hartz reforms and the roots of European imbalances17:22 - Competitiveness versus productivity and the hidden costs of wage suppression27:48 - China’s growth model and why rebalancing has proved so difficult35:54 - Who will absorb China’s trade surplus if the US closes its deficit?40:24 - Can the United States successfully reindustrialize?45:31 - Why Europe may eventually turn toward protectionism52:17 - The US deficit, global capital flows and the burden of dollar dominance01:01:50 - Why the renminbi is unlikely to replace the dollar01:10:45 - Historical trade imbalances and how painful adjustments unfold01:16:21 - What Japan’s experience reveals about China’s future01:21:02 - Final reflections on debt, globalization and economic adjustmentCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer