Trade talks between the United States and China have seen escalating tensions since 2018, when Washington imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in response to what it described as unfair trade practices, such as intellectual property theft and government support for companies. Beijing retaliated with similar tariffs, igniting a "trade war" between the world's two largest economies. The talks have focused on issues such as the U.S. trade deficit, forced technology transfer, and intellectual property protection. The "Phase One" agreement was reached in January 2020, where China committed to buying more American goods. Despite limited progress, disagreements remain, amid rising geopolitical competition, complicating the chances of reaching a comprehensive agreement in the near future.
