Aug 8, 2025
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hasn’t shied away from criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump — especially when it comes to his sweeping tariffs. But lately, the two have aligned on a shared concern: China.
“When we focus our attention on tariffs between partners, it diverts our energy from the real challenge — one that threatens us all,” von der Leyen said during the “Global economic outlook” roundtable at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
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“On this point, Donald is right — there is a serious problem,” she admitted. “The biggest collective problem we have has its origins in the accession of China to the WTO in 2001 … China has largely shown ... unwillingness to live within the constraints of the rules based international system.”
In particular, von der Leyen accused China of “undercutting intellectual property protections” and providing “massive subsidies with the aim to dominate global manufacturing and supply chains.”
She said China’s actions don’t reflect fair market competition, but instead represent “distortion with intent,” which she warned undermines the manufacturing sectors of its trading partners.
In her statement, von der Leyen urged G7 nations to confront the issue together, noting that the bloc represents 45% of global GDP and more than 80% of global intellectual property revenues — leverage that could be used to pressure China.
The European Commission chief also revealed she is “working closely” with Trump on a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
Her remarks echo Trump’s long-standing warnings about China — and add momentum to the broader push among Western nations to rethink their economic ties.
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For investors, it could be a wake-up call: When global power shifts, it pays to have something solid in your corner.
A time-tested safe haven
With global tensions rising and major economies reassessing their trade ties, investors are turning to assets that can hold up in turbulent times. One that continues to stand out, according to legendary hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, is gold.
“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC earlier this year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Long seen as the ultimate safe haven, gold isn’t tied to any single country, currency or economy. It can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in — driving up its value.
Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged more than 40%.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
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To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
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The asset that made Trump rich
If gold is the common go-to hedge for moments of chaos, real estate is the long game — and no one knows that better than Trump himself.
Before politics, Trump made his fortune in real estate — and the asset class remains a powerful tool for building and preserving wealth, especially during inflationary times. That’s because property values and rental income tend to rise along with the cost of living.
Unlike some other investments, real estate doesn’t need a roaring stock market to deliver returns. Even during downturns, high-quality properties can generate rental income — offering a dependable stream of passive cash flow.
As Trump told Steve Forbes back in 2011, “I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times.”
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Today, you don’t need to buy a property outright to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.
The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Another option is Homeshares, which gives accredited investors access to the $35 trillion U.S. home equity market — a space that’s historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.
With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.
With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.
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Jing is an investment reporter for MoneyWise. He is an avid advocate of investing for passive income. Despite the ups and downs he’s been through with the markets, Jing believes that you can generate a steadily increasing income stream by investing in high quality companies.
