The future of the (deteriorating) China-U.S. relationship

Article Excerpt

The relationship between China and the U.S. has further deteriorated since the start of this year. The list of issues includes the new security law in Hong Kong, South China Sea, Huawei, trade, intellectual property, and blame for the coronavirus. This has resulted in an effectively closed border between the countries and the forced closing of one regional consulate in each country. While there is always a risk that the relationship could deteriorate further, it’s worth remembering that both countries have much to gain from maintaining good relations longer term. Total trade between the two nations amounted to over $600 billion in 2018. The U.S. is the largest export destination for Chinese goods while China is the number three export destination for the U.S. Given the conclusion of a “Phase 1” trade deal between the countries early in 2020, trade should eventually rebound. A large number of Chinese students also attend college in the U.S. contributing more than a third of the 1.1…