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Journalist: tariffs could trigger a U.S.–China trade war; both sides nonetheless have leverage to strike a deal
Summary
Dexter Roberts said a tariff increase by the United States could prompt immediate Chinese retaliation, that China and the U.S. both have incentives to de-escalate, and he described items that could form the basis of a deal or a confrontation, including agricultural purchases, TikTok negotiations and technology restrictions.
Dexter Roberts, a journalist who has reported from China, told the Montana World Affairs Council conference that an imminent wave of tariffs proposed by the incoming U.S. administration could prompt swift Chinese retaliation and risk a wider trade conflict.
Roberts outlined why China and the United States might prefer a negotiated accord: China is still recovering consumer confidence and would want to avoid a disruptive trade war; the U.S. risks adding to inflation and unsettling financial markets if tariffs on Chinese goods become broader. Roberts said both sides therefore have negotiating levers that could be used to de-escalate.
He described concrete items that could form part of a deal: Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products and energy, continued purchases of…
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