China-US trade war: Biden team to tackle EU differences and ‘then take on Beijing’

In the backwash of China and the EU signing an investment accord, the incoming US government wants leverage to end China’s ‘problematic trade abuses’

Key Biden adviser says the new administration aims to end the multi-front trade war Trump’s government started

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Jake Sullivan is the designated national security adviser for the incoming Biden administration in the United States. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 2:27pm, 4 Jan 2021Updated: 11:49pm, 4 Jan 2021

The United States aims to end its trade war with European allies and work with them to deal with China’s trade practices, a key official in the upcoming administration of Joe Biden said after Beijing and Brussels signed a major investment deal.

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told CNN on Sunday that the new administration in Washington would recognise China as a serious strategic competitor to the US.

He also said president-elect Biden would work out the economic differences between the US and its European allies to improve their relations and jointly counter China on multiple fronts, from trade and technology, to the military and human rights.

Observers said that by naming Beijing as a strategic competitor, the Biden administration would not only put more economic and trade pressure on China but also push ahead in other key areas for the long term, including control over the Indo-Pacific.

“The Biden administration’s formulation of ‘strategic competitor’ indicates that he believes the competition with China is comprehensive and long-term competition, which is not only in the economy, but also in ... global influence,” said Tang Xiaoyang, a specialist in international relations at Tsinghua University.

“Therefore, he will not carry forward short-term policies towards China like [US President Donald] Trump did.”