Trade
When the Mayflower docked at Cape Cod in November of 1620, European-Asian relations were strong. Due to a surge of Eurasian trade starting in 1500, Europeans had grown to depend on the commodities of Asia. Tea, spices, herbs, silk, vegetables, and fruit name only a few of the many items that Asian traders had brought from their continent. The Pilgrims, and later colonists such as the American settlers would bring their thirst for Asian goods with them, and established strong trade relationships with Asia quickly.
Tourism
Asia and the Pacific brang in 23% of worldwide arrivals, and tourism quickly became an important part of its economy. America was the largest spending country in Asian tourism, so Asian-American diplomatic relations were extremely strong. This economical structure also boosted developed countries like Japan and South Korea higher, and allowed trade between America and Asia to increase as well.
The Pandemic
While the novel Coronavirus is speculated to have started in Asia, the US quickly overtook all countries in COVID-19 infections. Most Asian countries placed a trade embargo on the US to slow the spread of the virus, and many also closed their borders to American tourists. This strained diplomatic relations, which were already pushed to the brink due to President Trump’s frequent false criticism of Asian handling of the Coronavirus.
Post-Pandemic Relations
Despite the fact that in the US, the pandemic is still raging, we can still take a guess at what post-pandemic relations will look like.
An Extended Hand
Much like the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, many developed Asian countries will most likely offer help recovering from the recession caused by the pandemic. The question will be: Will we accept that extended hand? Although the obvious answer is yes, we must look at what we have done in this pandemic. We have shifted the blame to China, averted our attention from the actual issue: the pandemic, ignored the advice of countries that have offered help, and avoided facing the fact that we are no longer a good example. We desperately need to change our course of action if we are to come out of this pandemic in acceptable form.
Rebooting Tourism
The tourism industry will take time to reboot, as many essential companies needed for a vacation went bankrupt during the pandemic. Also, new safety measures will need to be implemented, as even after COVID-19 is gone people will be afraid. All of the changes needed will cost millions, if not more. We have no infrastructure built to help all the small businesses reboot. We have spent billions on stimulus bills, grants, and investments. The remaining money is not enough to reboot an entire industry, and no government will reasonably spend the only reserved cash they have on just one sector of their economy.
Rebooting Trade
Although getting the tourism industry running again will take time, trade will be the real problem. People will always be fearful of imported items, foreign traders, and new goods. To resume trade requires more than money. It requires trust. You can’t buy trust, and to earn it when everyone is fearful is a feat to behold. Even if you do get trust again, there will be new inspections and safety protocols after the pandemic, which will make importing costly, which in turn will reduce profit and add to already large amounts of debts. Our economy is in pieces, and we will find it a rough uphill climb to get back on top.
Conclusion
Asian-American relaionships were extremely strong and productive. It allowed Asian countries to import goods into America at cheaper prices, tourism in Asia to boom, and for America to take advantage of trade with Asia. However, with the arrival of the pandemic, trade and tourism halted, and strained relations were pushed even further by President Trump’s frequent false criticism of Asia’s handling of the pandemic. Post-pandemic relations will most likely take time, money, and trust to reboot.
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