How 'made in China' went global | The Global Story

The 'Made in China' label evolved from representing cheap, low-quality products to symbolizing state-of-the-art technology and luxury goods, a transformation driven by US-China economic engagement beginning in the 1970s. This shift was catalyzed by Nixon's 1972 visit to China, which ended 20 years of Cold War isolation and enabled the opening of trade. The US played a crucial role by implementing financialization policies that facilitated capital flows and manufacturing abroad, while China leveraged its large population to provide cheap labor. This economic relationship created China's manufacturing base and middle class, ultimately making China a global economic rival to the United States.