The Trustee Chair analyzes developments in U.S.-China relations, with attention to not only the bilateral relationship, but also how the relationship fits into U.S. ties with likeminded countries as well as its impact on the international order.

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Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Experts React: U.S.-China Relations Heading into a Likely Summit

This collection of brief comments by several CSIS China experts reflects substantial anxieties about the state of U.S.-China relations and the potential downsides to possible agreements reached during a potential Trump-Xi meeting on the sidelines of APEC.

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Commentary by Thomas J. Christensen, Jeannette Chu, Brian Hart, Scott Kennedy, Henrietta Levin, and Ilaria Mazzocco — October 6, 2025

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Experts React: U.S.-China Relations Heading into a Likely Summit

This collection of brief comments by several CSIS China experts reflects substantial anxieties about the state of U.S.-China relations and the potential downsides to possible agreements reached during a potential Trump-Xi meeting on the sidelines of APEC.

Commentary by Thomas J. Christensen, Jeannette Chu, Brian Hart, Scott Kennedy, Henrietta Levin, and Ilaria Mazzocco — October 6, 2025

Will the United States Push Europe Toward China?

Pressuring Europe with tariffs at such a critical time in EU-China relations could inadvertently lead to furthering China’s strategic advantage relative to Europe and undermine long-term U.S. interests.

Commentary by Ilaria Mazzocco — July 18, 2025

London Calling: Is the U.S.-China Ceasefire Holding?

Ryan Featherston examines the current state of the U.S.-China economic ceasefire. The tentative consensus the U.S. and China reached in Geneva on May 12 began to fray almost immediately after it was reached. Now, the deal in London appears to have brought Washington and Beijing back towards that equilibrium, though fundamental issues in the economic relationship remain unresolved.

Blog Post by Ryan Featherston — July 1, 2025

Bilateral Trade Balances: Ignore Them

Scott Kennedy and Ryan Featherston discuss recent U.S. tariffs and how the problem with the Trump administration’s approach is not which formula they use, but their general allergy to bilateral trade deficits in the first place. 

Blog Post by Scott Kennedy and Ryan Featherston — April 15, 2025

China and the Impact of “Liberation Day” Tariffs

This article unpacks the tariff actions taken against China, how China is responding, anticipated effects on China’s economy, and signposts for future action.

Critical Questions by Scott Kennedy, Ilaria Mazzocco, and Ryan Featherston — April 4, 2025

Growing Consensus on China: Real or Imagined?

Scott Kennedy hosts an event centered around a new paper by Rory Truex and Michael Cerny based on a survey of foreign policy professionals assessing the policy consensus on U.S.-China relations. 

Event — December 17, 2024