For the better part of a year, the United States and China have been engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war. It’s time to stop. The meeting on Saturday between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Buenos Ares is the place to make that happen.
To his credit, President Trump is taking important steps to minimize security concerns arising from certain Chinese investment and technology acquisition practices. Now, he must find a way forward that allows American businesses to participate in the world’s fastest-growing economy with as much fairness, openness and transparency as possible.
The tariff actions have put pressure on a Chinese economy that was already under some stress. But tariffs have also served as a tax on American consumers and businesses, and reciprocal tariffs from China are hurting American farmers, ranchers and manufacturers. Saturday’s meeting is the opportunity for the two presidents to abandon these damaging tariffs in favor of a framework for fair trade and investment.
