March 22, 2018
With Trump economic crackdown, a new era in U.S.–China relations
The Trump administration announced today a plan to levy investment restrictions and roughly $60 billion worth of tariffs on China in response to its widespread violation of U.S. intellectual property rights. The message to Beijing is clear: Washington will no longer overlook China’s systematic efforts to acquire American technology.
Why it matters: These economic policies mark the dawn of a new era in U.S.–China relations. Though once a source of stability between the world's two most powerful nations, commerce and investment will from now on be a flashpoint.
The big picture: Beijing pursues U.S. technology by extracting intellectual property from U.S. firms operating in China, investing in American companies and startups, and opening research centers in the U.S. to tap American talent. While the tariffs might compel China to improve its domestic treatment of American firms, they leave most of China's practices unaffected. Limitations on Chinese investment in the U.S. — if carefully scoped and adaptable to Beijing’s evolving toolkit — would do more.
Read the full op-ed on Axios.
More from CNAS
-
Trump Heads to Asia with High-Stakes Meeting with China’s Xi on the Agenda
President Donald Trump departed Washington Friday night for Asia with trade and U.S. relations with China top of mind. He is set to hold a high-stakes sit-down with Chinese Pr...
By Jacob Stokes
-
Defense / Indo-Pacific Security
Is the U.S. Ready for War with China?U.S. military planners are caught in an impossible dilemma....
By Franz-Stefan Gady
-
North Korea Hardens Posture as Allies Recalibrate Before APEC
With President Trump set to attend the APEC summit in Gyeongju, questions are resurfacing about a possible return to U.S.–North Korea diplomacy. No working-level talks are und...
By Dr. Go Myong-Hyun
-
Sharper: India and the Quad
Despite recent bilateral challenges, India’s relationship with the United States and its leadership within the Quad remains indispensable for an Indo-Pacific that is cooperati...
By Keerthi Martyn & Charles Horn
