Washington Update

Top Stories

Week in Review: Hong Kong Treatment, Senate Hopes to Pass NDAA, and Xinjiang Supply Chain Advisory July 2, 2020
Week in Review: Pressure to Sanction Chinese Officials, Mixed Messages on Phase One, and Focus on Civil-Military Fusion June 26, 2020
Week in Review: Lighthizer Defends Phase One, Uighur Bill Becomes Law, and Commerce Clarifies Huawei Rules June 19, 2020
Week in Review: 2020 Trade Policy, Reshoring Semicondutor Manufacturing, and Republican Strategy Calls China a Threat June 12, 2020
Week in Review: Visa and Hong Kong Travel Announcements, Phase One, and Xinjiang Still in Focus June 5, 2020

Week in Review: Phase One in Effect, Trade Remains a White House Priority, and Mixed Messages on Huawei

February 14th, 2020
By Chynna Hawes
Phase One now in effect

Today, the Phase One trade agreement officially goes into effect. While both the US and Chinese governments have repeatedly expressed confidence in China’s commitment to fulfilling the agreement, how China will complete the $200 billion worth of purchases of US products remains a question. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which China continues to grapple with also raises fresh questions. The Chinese government this week conceded that the virus may cause some...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Phase One Implementation, Currency Manipulation Rules, and Huawei Remains a Concern

February 7th, 2020
By Chynna Hawes
Phase One implementation

Coronavirus, so far, not expected to impact purchase commitments

Yesterday, President Trump spoke with China’s President Xi Jinping about the novel coronavirus and “agreed to continue extensive communication and cooperation between both sides,” according to the White House readout. Though the leaders also reportedly affirmed their commitment to implement the recent Phase One trade agreement, the impact of the virus on China’s economy has raised concerns about...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Questions on Implementation, Coronavirus Response, and UK Huawei Decision

January 31st, 2020
By Chynna Hawes
Phase One implementation still unclear

Several questions remain about the implementation of the Phase One trade agreement due to come into force on February 14. With little information from US or Chinese officials as to whether tariffs on various goods will be rolled back, there are doubts over the prospects of purchase commitments being met, and questions about the timeframe. Prospects for “phase two” negotiations are also unclear. In conversations with the US-China Business Council,...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Tariff Questions, Huawei and WTO Remain Priorities, and Coronavirus Impacts China Operations

January 24th, 2020
By Chynna Hawes

Phase One still sinking in

This week, President Trump touted the administration’s recently concluded trade deals, the Phase One trade agreement with China and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He also signaled US readiness to renew talks on reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), which no longer has a functioning dispute settlement mechanism largely due to actions of the United States. Despite support for...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Deal Signing Delegation Confirmed, "Emerging" Technology Export Controls, and 5G Bills

January 10th, 2020
By Chynna Hawes

Chinese delegation confirmed to be in DC next week for “phase one” deal signing

The Chinese government has confirmed that Vice Premier Liu He and a vice-ministerial delegation of Chinese officials will travel to Washington next week from January 13 to 15 to sign the “phase one” trade deal with the United States. The delegation will arrive on Monday, January 13, meet with academics and think tanks on Tuesday, and participate in what is expected to be a large signing ceremony at the...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Finalized Deal is Around the Corner, USTR Tariff Exclusion Comments, and 2020 Congressional Calendars

January 3rd, 2020
By Chynna Hawes

“Phase one” deal around the corner

The United States and China are expected to finalize a preliminary “phase one” trade deal this month. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he plans to sign a “large and comprehensive phase one trade deal with China on January 15” at the White House. High-level Chinese representatives will also attend, according to Trump, and will likely include China’s Vice Premier and chief trade negotiator Liu He. It is unknown who on the China side will sign...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: US and China Plan "Phase One" Signing in 2020, Emerging and Foundational Technologies, and USMCA

December 20th, 2019
By Anna Ashton

United States and China plan to sign “phase one” deal in early 2020, details still taking shape

The United States and China hope to sign a phase one trade deal in the first week of January. US-China Business Council (USCBC) contacts in the administration have indicated the deal will be signed at the vice premier-level in Washington, DC, and come into effect 30 days later. Administration officials have issued conflicting statements as to whether it will be President Trump and President...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Partial Trade Deal, USMCA, and New Defense Bill Expands China Focus

December 13th, 2019
By Chynna Hawes

Partial trade agreement expected today

The United States and China have reached an interim “Phase One” trade agreement. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), President Trump, and China’s Ministry of Commerce have confirmed the initial agreement includes improved intellectual property rights (IPR) protections, as well as commitments on technology transfer, agriculture purchases and structural reforms, financial services, and currency and foreign exchange, in...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: Negotiations Ongoing, Congress Doubles Down on Human Rights, and ICT Supply Chain Security

December 6th, 2019
By Chynna Hawes

Negotiations still ongoing, both sides navigate non-trade issues

Negotiations for a “phase one” agreement with China continue, amid posturing from President Trump on the urgency of reaching a deal by the planned December 15 tariff escalation and  pressure from Congress to address human rights and democracy issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Deputies on both sides continue to engage daily. Though the principals have not engaged for more than a week, they remain hopeful for an agreement...

Continue Reading »

Week in Review: A Deal is on Shaky Ground, Pushback on Huawei Licenses, and China Remains a Focal Point in Congress

November 22nd, 2019
By Chynna Hawes

Deal this year on shaky ground 

Progress toward an interim trade deal between the United States and China remained uncertain this week. While a few goodwill gestures were seen this week—including a grand farewell for Bei Bei, a giant panda and favorite of the DC National Zoo who returned to China as part of the panda breeding program—uncertainty continues to mount. The target closing date for an agreement has now shifted to December 15, when the next round of US tariffs are set to be...

Continue Reading »

Pages