ALPHA UNIVERSITY

ALPHA UNIVERSITY

LESSONS I LEARNED FROM BILLIONAIRE BILL ACKMAN

Will China Sell U.S. Debt?

PREPARED BY: Chris Stanford 

DATE:5/19/23

 

Will China sell U.S. debt? This is a significant question considering the substantial amount of U.S. Treasury debt held by China. The concern revolves around whether China would utilize this debt as a leverage tool against the United States. Let’s explore this topic in more detail.

China’s holdings of U.S. Treasury debt have been a subject of interest and speculation for many years. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, China was one of the largest foreign holders of U.S. debt, with a significant portion of its foreign reserves invested in U.S. Treasury securities. This situation arises partly from China’s trade surplus with the United States, as it accumulates U.S. dollars and looks for safe and liquid assets to invest in.

The idea of China leveraging its U.S. debt holdings against the United States is not unfounded. In theory, China could potentially sell a substantial amount of its U.S. Treasuries, causing a surge in supply and a subsequent decrease in the value of these securities. Such a move could lead to higher interest rates in the U.S., making it more expensive for the country to borrow and potentially impacting its economy.

In summary, while the question of whether China will sell U.S. debt remains a topic of interest and concern, the situation is multifaceted. While China holds a significant amount of U.S. Treasury debt, several factors make the likelihood of a large-scale sell-off less probable. Nevertheless, monitoring the dynamics between the two countries and their financial interactions is important to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex issue.