Ultimately, it is a contest - that is why neo-mercantilist Asian countries have been so successful, because they do not have an ideology that the solution  is to leave everything to the markets.

The difference is that most countries know enough not to blatantly stomp around saying the wrong things, and sometimes countries can do better by finding common interests.

China is busy buying up our companies, debt and real estate instead of buying our manufactured goods - do you think this is just an accident?