Once a source of US-China tension, trade emerges as an area of calm

WASHINGTON — For the better part of three years, President Donald Trump’s trade war with China strained relations between the world’s largest economies. Now, the trade pact the two countries signed in January appears to be the most durable part of the US-China relationship.

Trade, long the most contentious part of the US-China relationship, has suddenly become an area of surprising stability. In some ways, the signing of the sought-after trade deal in January has paved the way for the Trump administration to press China on other fronts. In pursuit of a trade deal, the Trump administration had long shelved various actions to address other concerns about China, including its human rights abuses in Xinjiang, its crackdown in Hong Kong and security threats and sanctions violations by Chinese technology and telecommunications companies like Huawei and ZTE.

Geopolitical tensions are rising, too. Clashes between Chinese and Indian troops over their disputed border in the Himalayas have resulted in fatalities. US officials have increased their criticisms of China’s actions in the South China Sea, calling Beijing’s claims to the disputed waters “completely unlawful.” In April, the US sent two warships into disputed waters near Malaysia as a show of force after a Chinese government vessel tailed a Malaysian state oil company ship for days.

The Chinese government is trying to keep trade matters separate from other frictions in the bilateral relationship, though that has proved more difficult as the two countries begin closing each other’s consulates. “China has made all efforts to smooth the relationship with the US,” said Tu Xinquan, the dean of the China Institute for World Trade Organization Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

nytimes

Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

US-China tensions jolt yen to one-month highSINGAPORE — A slide in the dollar paused and the safe-haven yen rose to a one-month high on Friday, as China-U.S. tensions escalated after China ordered the United States to shut its Chengdu
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Consulate in Chengdu readies for closure as US, China clashStaff at the US consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu were busy packing belongings and removing the American insignia from the building on Saturday, a day after Beijing ordered its closure.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Australia rejects Beijing’s South China Sea claims, backing USKapal muks talaga CCP, sooooo greedy!!! Man I'm really liking Australia more and more as time goes by
Source: ANCALERTS - 🏆 26. / 50 Read more »

China orders US consulate in Chengdu to cease operations in retaliation for Houston closureChina has ordered the closure of the United States consulate in Chengdu, days after Washington forced the Chinese consulate in Houston to cease operations.
Source: CNN Philippines - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »

Neowise comet: Worth the wait, once in 6,800 yearsAfter the first week of August, Neowise will move away from the sun and won’t be visible again for another 6,800 years, Pagasa said. | RAOstriaINQ RAOstriaINQ Still waiting for its appearance here in Palawan, hoping for clear skies tonight.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Private schools to DepEd: Ease policies to keep us afloat during pandemicAn organization of private schools appealed to the Department of Education to ease some of its policies to help keep them afloat during the pandemic and the anticipated economic recession in the country.
Source: rapplerdotcom - 🏆 4. / 86 Read more »