VCE Politics - Unit 4 AOS1: Evidence

Tariffs

During 2025, US imports from China were roughly worth $327.48bn, and the trade deficit sits at just over $202bn. As a result, the USA imposed 125% tariffs on China in April 2025 on Liberation Day, with Trump stating Liberation Day is the day where the "American industry was reborn."

Transits

April 2026 - Australian, Canadian, and American ships travel through and transit in the South China Sea to "promote peace and stability" according to the US government.

21-30% of trade passes through here, a value of $3.3-3.5tn annually

CC

Jan. 2026 - The USA withdrew from the UNFCCC, with the white house saying it was due to the fact that it "no longer serve American interests" and that the agreement do not reflect America's "contributions to the pursuit of economic… objectives."

QUAD

July 2025 - the Foreign Ministers of the USA, Australia, India, and Japan meet in Washington D.C. for the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting. Many key initiatives were announced, like the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to "strengthen economic security and collective resilience."

USAID Closure

July 2025 - USAID officially closes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating there is finally a "foreign funding mission in America that prioritizes our national interests."

Philippines Aid

Dec. 2025 - US Senate approves a bill for $2.5bn in aid (Foreign Military Financing (FMF)) to grant assistance to the Philippines. This will help develop the state's capabilities for 5 fiscal years, and "meet growing threats in the Indo-Pacific."

Summit and its Outcomes

May 2026 - Trump and Xi Jinping conclude a summit in Beijing, with Trump hailing "fantastic trade deals" like China agreeing to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft from the USA.

May 2026 - Trump announces, in an executive order, that the USA and China will establish a Board of Trade to allow the US govt. and Chinese govt. to manage bilateral trade across non-sensitive goods.

Meeting with Xi (not summit)

October 2025 - Trump lowers total tariff rate on Chinese goods from 57-47% after a meeting with Xi Jinping, stating it was "an amazing meeting"

Cultural

June 2026 - Pacific Partnership 2026 mission begins. US Navy will provide humanitarian assistance in the Indo Pacific, to, according to the US govt., advance the "shared vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific" and "administer critical humanitarian services."

AI Chips

January 2026 - Trump makes moves to end the importing of chips and start making them in the USA. 25% tariffs are placed on imports of NVIDIA and AMD chips, stating it is "critical for economic and national security."