Trump impeachment clouds prospects for US-China trade war talks

Facing trial in the Senate, US president likely to be too distracted to focus on resolving tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, observers say

Trump will also be focused on his re-election in 2020, which may result in renewed attacks on Beijing to address the US trade deficit with China

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US President Donald Trump will be focused on his re-election in 2020, which may result in renewed attacks on Beijing to address the US trade deficit with China. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:44pm, 19 Dec 2019Updated: 2:25am, 20 Dec 2019

Beijing held to diplomatic protocol and declined to comment on the US House of Representatives’ vote on Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump, but with both nations locked in trade war talks observers said the negotiations could face new obstacles.

The impeachment process would likely distract Trump from resolving the trade conflict between the world’s two biggest economies and erode the credibility of his administration, they said.

In a largely partisan decision, the House voted to impeach Trump on charges of abusing power and obstructing congressional investigations. Trump will now face a trial in the US Senate, where he is expected to be acquitted because it is controlled by his Republican Party.

However, Trump will also be focused on his re-election in 2020, which may result in renewed attacks on Beijing to address the US trade deficit with China.

James Zimmerman, partner in the Beijing office of law firm Perkins Coie and a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said the impeachment pointed to further erosion of the credibility of the office of the US presidency.