The United States has been a world power since the beginning of the twentieth century, and the world power since its defeat of the Soviet Union in the Cold War. China, meanwhile, has been on the economic and political rise for a little over thirty years, its meteoric expansion raising questions about its willingness and desire to compete with the United States. Such a conflict could take the form of a Cold War, or something much, much messier. Tension regarding Taiwan and spheres of influence in the Pacific, along with fundamentally contrasting political, economic, and social ideals, lead the world to wonder if another war between powers is brewing. However, as this paper shows, the cost would be too high—literally. The intertwined economies of both countries mean both would have too much to lose by engaging in warfare that prevents trade. This paper explores sanctions and their affects during warfare using three case studies before analyzing the situation between China and United States for consequent observations and predictions.