What’s next for China-US ties as President Donald Trump begins year two at the White House?
His flip-flopping approach to relations with Beijing left everyone guessing in 2017, but no one is expecting him to behave any differently in the year ahead
A year into US President Donald Trump’s presidency, his relationship with China reflects – perhaps more than in any other area – the policy reversals that have characterised his tenure and undermined his administration’s key objectives.
As year two dawns, analysts and policymakers are forecasting further friction.
While multiple US government investigations into China’s trade and investment practices are under way, and the threat of punitive tariffs looms, there is no sign that Trump will temper his outbursts on any subject. This was made clear by the recent controversy over what coarse expletive he used in meetings with lawmakers and cabinet officials to malign Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.
With his own (possibly racist) words, Trump digs quite a ‘s***hole’ for himself
More downside in relations with China would jeopardise the world’s largest bilateral trading relationship, valued at US$648 billion in 2016, and two-way foreign direct investment worth more than US$250 billion in the past 10 years.