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Middle East conflict could shape U.S. and China trade negotiations

A former diplomat says ongoing conflicts in the Middle East could impact trade negotiations between the U.S. and China.

Kurt Campbell is the former Deputy Secretary of State for the Biden Administration. 

“They are prepared to invite President Trump to Beijing under any circumstances,” he says.

He says the current energy crisis could help bring China to the negotiating table.

“China is facing challenges to their economy,” he says. “If there is global energy market instability, that unsettles global markets in ways that will have secondary impacts on the Chinese economy.”

But, Campbell says trade uncertainty continues to be a challenge.

“The Chinese believe that on some key issues, they can elicit outcomes that might be more favorable to China,” he says. “This initial meeting should be clarifying about the ultimate direction of U.S. and China relations.”

President Trump announced Monday that he would delay the meeting with President Xi of China until the conflict in Iran ends.

Campbell made his comments during a recent Atlantic Council webinar.