Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez: The differences between China and the U.S. will always exist, but the world needs them to achieve harmony.

Ask AI · How do differences in the China-U.S. economic models affect global peaceful coexistence?

At the Boao Forum for Asia 2026 Annual Conference sub-forum titled “A New Global Trade Pattern Under the Impact of the Tariff War,” held on the afternoon of March 24, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez shared his views on the current global trade landscape, China-U.S. relations, and future directions. He bluntly stated that global trade “will not return in our foreseeable future.”

In his speech, Gutierrez said that when facing the current trade situation, people always ask one question: should we step back, and can we return to how things used to be?

His answer was: “It will take a long time to go back—can we go back? It’s possible, but not in our foreseeable future. Too many things have already been damaged.” He pointed out that the U.S. has already withdrawn from seven institutions, and the economy has been significantly impacted. It’s not simply a matter of returning to the past, nor is it easy to do so.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing tariff war, Gutierrez observed that free trade agreements are still being signed and negotiated, but these FTAs will soften the WTO’s standards and requirements for transparency. He said that strengthening these standards is not a good environment right now; he prefers to see China and the U.S. reach an agreement.

Gutierrez emphasized that a deeply significant topic in the current era is how China and the U.S. can each step back, allowing the two models to coexist peacefully and coordinate. He pointed out that the differences between China’s and the U.S.’s models are enormous, but both have been very successful in the past. “We need to conclude that China and the U.S. are two different systems, and this divergence will always exist. They are the two largest countries in the world, and the world needs these two countries to achieve harmony.”

He cited China’s investment in electric vehicles as an example, noting that China began its layout in 2012, and now holds 50% of the global electric vehicle market share. Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, which started with the revival of the Silk Road, it has now reached a scale of $5.3 trillion. He believes that this centralized capital investment and government-driven strategic industry investment are very effective in China.

Gutierrez believes that coordination between the two major economies, China and the U.S., is the biggest challenge we face today. “How can we make these two economies more harmonious, so everyone feels there is opportunity, and find ways for the two models to coordinate?” He called for recognizing that both models are viable.

The former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez visits the “Building a High-Standard Hainan Free Trade Port” themed exhibition and experiences VR of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

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