America has long been correctly criticized for economic imperialism, which involves manipulating markets and entire economies so they are favorable to the economic interests of the imperialist nation and its companies. This is not always done by governments, it is usually done by companies and entire industries, usually in colloaboration with those in the colony who stand to benefit. The imperialist government does help, by means of subsidies, tariffs, tax policies, and (only if absolutely necessary) military intervention.

However, I do not see this as an American problem, every nation in the world, throughout history, has done this if it could get away with it. The process is now often financed with foreign aid instead of downright conquest as in the 16-19th centuries. For example, you offer to build them an airport so they can develop a tourist industry. Of course, the attached strings state the airport can only be built by the imperialist's contractors and the hotels will be owned by the imperialist's companies. In this way, the taxpayers of the imperialist country can subsidize a lucrative cash cow for the imperialist companies and feel warm and cozy about the "gifts" they have given to the host country. They will also be ready to render their sons and finance the wars needed to get this property back if the host country gets hip to what's happening. A small and reactionary native middle class develops that profits mightily by administering the imperialist's holdings, so they form a powerful ally to the imperialists' goals. The US is only different in the scope and scale this has been possible with in the twentieth century.

China is now getting ready to do it to the rest of the world, including the USA. Like the Japanese before them, they are enlisting American companies to finance, distribute and market their products, eventually even manufacture them, and those American companies will collaborate in the success of their foreign masters by lobbying, advertising, public relations, etc. Whatever it takes.

It is only fair that the third world must expect to pay a fair price for its development, and the developed world has every right to profit from its investments. However, if economic imperialism promotes institutions which deliberately keep the host country poor, and which continue to profit from it until it is milked dry of its resources so it can then be abandoned...well, THAT's economic imperialsim, not "soft power".