US to Probe China’s Compliance with 2020 Trade Agreement

In a move that could potentially escalate tensions between the two economic giants, the US administration revealed on Friday that it will launch an investigation into whether China has lived up to its commitments under the 2020 trade deal. The announcement comes just ahead of a highly anticipated summit between US and Chinese leaders, where trade relations are likely to be a key topic of discussion.

The trade deal, which was signed in January 2020, was aimed at easing trade tensions between the US and China that had been building for years. The agreement included a number of concessions from China, such as increased purchases of US goods and services, as well as commitments to strengthen intellectual property protections and to reduce trade barriers.

However, US officials have long been skeptical about China’s compliance with the deal, citing concerns that Beijing has not done enough to meet its obligations. The investigation, which will be conducted by the Office of the US Trade Representative, will examine whether China has fulfilled its commitments under the deal, and could potentially lead to new tariffs or other trade restrictions if China is found to have fallen short.

The announcement of the investigation is likely to be seen as a test of the Biden administration’s approach to trade policy, and could potentially complicate efforts to improve relations with China. The summit between US and Chinese leaders, which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, will be closely watched for signs of whether the two countries can find common ground on trade and other issues.