Abstract: Confrontation between the two most economically developed countries and the advent of coarse trade wars has disturbed the international arena in 2017. One of the causes for such contradictory relations is presidency and election campaign of Donald Trump, who actively advocated the need to change the structure of relations between the United States and China. This article is an attempt to get a grasp on the origins of contradictions, trace the chronology of the development of trade wars, and carry out a comprehensive analysis of the methods and instruments used by the governments of both countries to resolve the conflict. The key goal of this research is to determine the main causes underlying the trade-economic rivalry between China and the United States, as well as the prerequisites for the emergence of trade wars between the countries. Special attention is given to the U. S. – China contradictions during the presidency of D. Trump. Methodological framework is comprised of theoretical methods of analysis, synthesis, and comparison, as well as systematic approach for examining the key challenges emerging in the trade relations between China and the United States, and mechanisms for overcoming them. In the studying the in-depth motives of the modern conflict, the authors referred to the power transition theory, which clarifies the origins of contradictions between the countries. The novelty of this work consist is consideration of the current stage of U. S.  – China trade war, which continues despite the outbreak of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusion is made that the contradictions between PRC and the United States are of compound, and thus, not limited by contradictions in the trade-economic sphere, which conditions for long-run conflict.

Abstract: This article examines the main factors of the emergence of Indo-Pacific Strategy, the balance of powers between China and the United States in the Indo-Pacific Region, and their investment policy into contiguous countries of the region. Special attention is paid to contradictions between China and the United States in the region, as well as the impact of D. Trump’s Indo-Pacific Strategy upon U. S. relations with China. The article explores the main integration structures of Indo-Pacific Region, goals and tasks set before them. The novelty of this research is defined by fact that in incipient competition between the two countries for the leading positions in Indo-Pacific Region is traced in the advanced by China concept “One Belt, One Road” and U. S. strategy of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. The author comes to the conclusion that currently there is no unified integrated interregional authority that is capable of solving the entire range of problems faced by the countries of Indo-Pacific Region. However, the United States gradually lose its leading position in the region, yielding to PRC. China’s domestic reforms, aimed at improvement of interregional financial and economic ties, contribute to creation of a positive image of the country and strengthening of PRC’s position in the Indo-Pacific Region.