In an all-of-economy bid to upgrade the US defence ecosystem, all global goods and services could be subject to security scrutiny

Donald Trump has made a stunning comeback and will be the 47th US president. With the Republicans winning the presidency, taking control of the Senate and possibly the House of Representatives, and with a Supreme Court conservative majority, Trump has amassed formidable power to deal with some of the US’ toughest structural issues.

The Democratic Party will be licking its wounds, wondering how it lost so badly. Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency was a roller-coaster of policy swings that riveted not just Americans but the world. On foreign policy, however, there would be few who doubt that the US-China rivalry will remain intense.

First, Trump has declared he will try to end the Ukraine war, which suggests he will leave the mess for Europe to deal with, freeing the US to concentrate on the Middle East and China.

Second, he has threatened to increase tariffs to 60 per cent or more on Chinese imports, criticised Joe Biden’s Chips and Science Act and accused Taiwan of stealing US semiconductor business.

Anyone interested in how US bureaucracy is totally focused on China should read the US national defence industrial strategy report, which outlines the country’s full-spectrum competition and preparedness for an open conflict with China.

In her forward to the report, Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks quoted the 2022 national defence strategy, which said that the US “will prioritise coordinated efforts with the full range of domestic and international partners in the defense ecosystem to fortify the defense industrial base, our logistical systems and relevant global supply chains against subversion, compromise and theft”.