“Russel noted that Trump’s reelection campaign has made China-bashing a centerpiece of its appeal to American voters. Yang, meanwhile, answers to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who, like Trump, has a political interest in looking tough on a rival…
“‘Perhaps the best we can hope for is a meeting in which the two sides take soundings on the other’s intentions and agree to stop short of actions that would blow up the trade deal,’ Russel said…”