Trump Puts US-China Trade War on Pause

U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Ray Odierno met with commanders of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing, China, February 21, 2014. Gen. Odierno, spoke with different Chinese commanders to strengthen and promote military to military relations between the United States and China. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Mikki L. Sprenkle/Released)

Summary

The US-China trade war has been put on hold, with both sides claiming an early victory.

A week of high-level talks in the United States resulted in the Trump administration dialing back its threats of wide-ranging tariffs. The move comes days after President Trump called on the Commerce Department to ease penalties on Chinese telecom ZTE, which was faced with bankruptcy after a ban on buying US components.

It’s obvious what China gets here: a reprieve from a damaging US-initiated trade war and a chance to enter into open-ended negotiations, all without having to cross (or even approach) any of its negotiating red lines. What the United States gets out of the deal is far less obvious, a fact that has many of the hardliners in President Trump’s administration – and voter base – up in arms over what they view as an unforced capitulation from their tough-talking leader.

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