What 1980s OIL-GOLD Crisis Reveals Will Happen Next – History Repeats

“Trade, it went from the West to the East, and it’s never coming back, the gold that’s there,” says Gianni Kovacevic, author and energy commentator. In today’s interview with Daniela Cambone, Kovacevic argues that the global economic center of gravity has permanently shifted. He explains how China, through decades of strategic investment and industrial planning, now dominates critical supply chains, from rare earths to battery production, despite holding just 7% of the raw materials. “They did the hard work. We didn’t,” he says. With the U.S. focused on short-term political cycles and nostalgic reshoring efforts, Kovacevic warns that nations like China and Russia are stockpiling hard assets, especially gold, as faith in the dollar continues to erode. “There’s nowhere else to go,” he adds, predicting that gold’s rise is far from over.
Is America Being Outsmarted?
The U.S.-China trade truce might look like stability on the surface. But behind the curtain, China is executing a decades-long plan while Washington just reacts. In the ongoing chess match of global power, the U.S. may be losing the strategic edge—and your wealth could be the next casualty.
This isn’t just a story about tariffs. It’s about supply chains, rare earth dominance, global trade flows, and gold. And the implications couldn’t be more urgent.
China’s Workforce and Trade Machine: Engineered to Win
While the U.S. churns out bureaucrats, China builds engineers.
- 415 million Chinese millennials
- 100+ million university STEM grads
- Vast export infrastructure and workforce discipline
Tim Cook said it plainly: “We can’t make the iPhone in America. We don’t have the people.”
China’s long game is about more than factories. It’s about cornering the global trade map:
- ASEAN: $550B in trade
- EU: $500B+
- U.S.: Now below $500B and declining
China doesn’t need the U.S. as much as it used to. And that gives them leverage in future negotiations.
Rare Earths and Resources: China Already Won Round One
Gianni Kovacevic didn’t mince words: China “did the Yeoman’s work.”
- 75% of global battery production capacity
- Only 7% of raw materials
- Trillions invested globally, especially in Africa
Meanwhile, the West is just starting to talk about lithium projects and funding timelines. Even Trump’s “fast track” list of 10 resource projects is years behind.
The real cost? Dependence. In a resource war, the nation with the raw materials and refining capacity wins.
Gold: The One Asset China Is Hoarding While the West Sells
Gold is nearing $3,400/oz, and it’s not by accident. This isn’t just price speculation—it’s a structural shift in who owns the world’s gold.
Back in 1980, 10 barrels of oil bought 1 ounce of gold. That broke down when the dollar lost value. Now?
- Oil at $72 = 45 barrels to buy 1 ounce of gold
- Gold has adjusted for inflation, oil hasn’t
China understands this. They’re buying physical gold, not paper promises. The West? Gordon Brown sold Britain’s gold at the bottom. Canada has no reserves. Meanwhile, Russia and China quietly stack.
As Gianni says, “The gold has gone from West to East, and it’s never coming back.”
Why Gold and Silver Are the Only Real Hedge Left
When trade wars heat up and currencies devalue, gold and silver remain the final anchor of value.
- Tangible assets: immune to digital manipulation or government seizure
- Wealth preservation: historically resilient in crises
- Gold vs dollar: as the dollar weakens, gold strengthens
- Inflation hedge: maintains purchasing power across decades
Physical metals aren’t a speculation. They’re your financial foundation.
Conclusion: If You Wait for Washington to Wake Up, It’ll Be Too Late
While the U.S. scrambles to patch holes in its global strategy, China builds. And buys. And waits.
They play the long game. We react. The consequences are playing out in your wallet, your retirement account, and the price of real assets.
Don’t wait for another “truce” to see the writing on the wall.
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