The Ethics of Global Trade Wars and Food Loss

As the world races toward greater technological advancements and efficiency, industries such as electric vehicles (EVs), arms, smartphones, semiconductors, and agriculture have become battlegrounds for global trade wars. These conflicts are not just about economic power but have significant ethical and environmental consequences. They are reshaping global power dynamics while undermining efforts to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and combat climate change.

Trade Wars in Key Industries: A Battle for Dominance

Trade wars today go beyond tariffs and taxes—they involve technological control, resource acquisition, and market domination. The growing conflict between the West and China presents ethical dilemmas around progress, responsibility, and fairness.

1. Electric Vehicles (EVs):
   The EV market is projected to grow to over $1.1 trillion by 2030, with China leading the charge. In 2023, China exported over 5 million vehicles, sparking concern in Europe and the U.S. over market competition. The European Union responded with tariffs of 20-38% on Chinese EV imports, citing unfair subsidies.

However, these tariffs reflect a deeper ethical contradiction. On the one hand, governments are encouraging clean technologies to fight climate change. On the other, blocking more affordable Chinese EVs could slow global progress toward sustainable transportation. Should Western nations stifle innovation from a developing country that provides greener, more accessible solutions?

2. Arms Industry:
   The global arms market, valued at over $1.9 trillion, is another arena where ethics and trade wars collide. China has steadily increased its arms exports, particularly to Africa and the Middle East, challenging U.S. and Russian dominance. Despite criticizing China’s arms sales, Western nations face similar scrutiny for supplying weapons to regimes with questionable human rights records.

A glaring example is Germany’s delay in selling weapons to Israel while continuing sales to Qatar, a country accused of supporting Hamas. This paradox reveals the ethical failings of the arms industry, where nations preach peace yet profit from violence.

3. Smartphones and Semiconductors:
   The $500 billion smartphone and $600 billion semiconductor markets are also locked in trade wars. Tech giants like Apple, Intel, and Nvidia are in a race for dominance, with China consuming over 60% of global semiconductors. Western sanctions restrict China’s access to advanced technology, raising ethical questions: Should a few countries control technological advancements, or should these innovations be shared to promote global progress?

4. Mining and Resource Exploitation:
   The mining industry, essential for EVs, semiconductors, and smartphones, is worth around $1 trillion. China controls 70% of the global rare earth market, giving it immense leverage over supply chains. In response, Western nations have sought alternative sources, often leading to environmental degradation and worker exploitation in developing countries. This contradiction reveals an uncomfortable truth: while advocating for sustainability, nations continue to exploit resources, harming both people and the environment.

The Global Food Market: Size, Loss, and Ethical Dilemmas

While trade wars dominate headlines, the $8 trillion global food market faces a different but equally significant crisis. Each year, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted, a staggering financial loss of $1 trillion. In a world where 820 million people go hungry, nearly one-third of food produced is lost or wasted—an ethical and environmental failure.

Food Loss: A Silent Crisis

Food loss happens throughout the supply chain, from farm to table. In developing nations, poor infrastructure and inadequate storage cause significant waste during production. In wealthier nations, overproduction and consumer waste are the main culprits. For example, the United States wastes 30-40% of its food supply annually.

Food waste contributes 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as rotting food in landfills releases methane, a potent climate-changing gas. The resources (land, water, energy) used to produce food that is never consumed further exacerbate the environmental toll. How can the global community justify such waste when millions of people go hungry, and the planet's resources are finite?

The Health Industry: Ethical Concerns in Chemicals and COVID Practices

The $12 trillion global health industry faces ongoing ethical issues beyond COVID-19, including promoting harmful chemicals and unhealthy food. Corruption has plagued vaccine distribution, COVID-19 control measures, and public health policies. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies and chemical and food industries push unhealthy products laden with chemicals, raising concerns about safety and public well-being. These practices highlight the need for stronger ethical oversight to ensure that profit motives do not override the fundamental responsibility to safeguard global health and human life.

The Intersection of Trade Wars and Food Security

Trade wars between China and the West further complicate the global food market. China, the world's largest agricultural producer, plays a pivotal role in global food trade. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the EU often impose trade restrictions and subsidies that distort food prices and access. Smaller, developing countries, unable to compete, face growing food insecurity.

The hypocrisy within sustainability initiatives is evident. While Western countries promote carbon reduction and SDG achievements, their protectionist trade policies and subsidies often undermine food security. For example, subsidies in the U.S. and EU lead to overproduction, resulting in surplus food being wasted or dumped into foreign markets, disrupting local economies.

Conclusion: A Call for Ethical Realignment

The global economy is at a critical crossroads. Trade wars are driving innovation and competition in industries like EVs, smartphones, and semiconductors. Yet, these same conflicts are hindering progress toward sustainability and ethical business practices. The food and health industries, caught in a web of trade policies, wasteful practices, and corrupt health initiatives, reflect the broader need for a more ethical approach to global commerce.

As the West and China continue their economic battles, we must remember that trade is not just about profits—it is about people. Every decision made in these industries has far-reaching consequences, from food security to environmental sustainability and global health. To align with the SDGs and combat climate change, global powers must prioritize ethics over profit, cooperation over conflict, and sustainability over short-term gains.

In this intricate web of trade, innovation, health, and ethics, the challenge is clear: how do we reconcile economic growth with the urgent need to protect our planet and its people? The answer lies in global collaboration—where trade wars give way to efforts aimed at achieving common goals for the greater good.

The Call for Judgment: Rosh Hashanah’s Message

As the Jewish people and Israel celebrate their New Year during Rosh Hashanah, it is an opportune time for our world to reflect on its direction. Indeed, in the Rosh Hashanah prayers, the world is judged, and the destiny of all living beings is written:

"All mankind will pass before You like members of the flock.
As a shepherd herds his flock, causing his sheep to pass under his staff,
so do You cause to pass, count, calculate, and consider the soul of all the living;
and You will apportion the destinies of all Your creatures,
and inscribe their verdict."

With wars, political divisions, and the faltering of the UN SDGs, the world must assess its direction. Rosh Hashanah reminds us of the need for reflection and realignment, urging us to consider the greater good as we face a future full of challenges but also opportunities for ethical growth and global cooperation.