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US-China trade war
ChinaPolitics

Do the numbers in Donald Trump’s ‘phase one’ trade deal work? US critics worry they don’t

  • Concerns include a lack of specifics on farm purchase commitments and enforcement mechanisms
  • A shortage of trust on both sides and the US president’s mercurial negotiating style also cited as shortcomings

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A cornerstone of the new deal is Beijing’s commitment to buy more US farm goods. Photo: AP
Mark Magnierin New YorkandRobert Delaney
After a quick sigh of relief at the apparent easing in US-China tensions, American critics noted several shortcomings in the trade deal that was announced between the world’s two largest economies on Friday.
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Top among them were a lack of specifics on farm purchase commitments and enforcement mechanisms, a shortage of trust on both sides and US President Donald Trump’s mercurial negotiating style.

“We don’t have anything in writing, and even if we have something in writing, it doesn’t matter with this administration,” said Nicole Bivens Collinson, president of international trade and government relations with law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg.

“China knows, whatever deal it’s getting into could change anytime,” said the former assistant chief negotiator for the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Under the terms of a “phase one” trade deal outlined by Beijing and Washington, threatened US tariffs on US$160 billion of Chinese imports set for Sunday would be dropped, while duties imposed in September on about US$120 billion of Chinese goods would be halved to 7.5 per cent. Tariffs imposed earlier on US$250 billion of Chinese items would remain at 25 per cent.
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On other fronts, China agreed to make an additional US$200 billion purchase of various US manufactured goods – food, agricultural and seafood products – and energy products and services.

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