Sitting in the Oval Office alongside senior Chinese officials this month, President Trump declared that the United States had reached “a substantial phase one deal” with China — a development that could ease an intensifying trade war that has roiled global markets and hurt many U.S. businesses and consumers.
Within days, however, “the greatest and biggest deal ever made” turned out to be at best a work in progress. Chinese officials signaled they want another round of talks before signing anything, while adding that Trump should scrap a tariff hike scheduled for December before talks proceed.
Nearly three years into his tenure, the president who promised to bring his “Art of the Deal” business savvy to foreign and trade policy has few substantive deals to his name — and he is running short on time to deliver big-ticket agreements ahead of Election Day next year.
View the complete October 22 article by Anne Gearan and David J. Lynch on The Washington Post website here.