US-China Relations in Trump's First Term

Abstract

During the run up to the 2016 US presidential election, US presidential candidate Donald Trump eviscerated China on the campaign trail, blaming and characterizing it as the prime scapegoat for many of America's economic woes. Trump told a crowd in Indiana that the US "can't continue to allow China to rape our country" with respect to unfair trade practices and currency valuation. Trump and his advisors repeatedly threatened to label China a currency manipulator on day one in office and assess a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports to punish Beijing for unfair trade practices. Once it became clear that Trump's campaign rhetoric could be effectuated following his victory in the presidential election, China publicly rejected the currency manipulation claims and avowed to protect its rights under the WTO and take a "tit-for-tat" approach with the US goods sold in China.