Trump Won’t Be Able to Let China Slide on Trade Deal
How much Beijing complies with the recent agreement will set the tone for relations in an election year.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as the trade war escalated in 2018.
Photographer: Bloomberg
Despite the relief generated from the U.S.-China deal, 2020 is shaping up to be an even more eventful year for trade than what we’ve just been through. If recent history teaches us anything, it’s that getting an agreement signed and then abiding by it may be more difficult than the negotiations.
It didn’t take long after the announcements in Washington and Beijing for cracks to appear. Among major issues, China and the United States have different understandings of how quickly remaining U.S. tariffs will be removed once a deal is executed, leaving room for misunderstanding. It would be wise to temper optimism.