CHINA/STEVE MNUCHIN/TRADE WAR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump may believe that China will eventually wave the white flag in a trade war, but his posture is inviting only more resistance from Beijing, where skepticism of his administration’s ability to negotiate in good faith is growing…The question was raised just before China announced that it would accept an invitation to begin a fresh round of talks, reportedly initiated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin…Despite the official response welcoming new talks, there is little indication that the government in Beijing is ready to change its practices or give in to U.S. demands. The close relationship between state-owned companies and government should make it easy for China to institute quickly new policies on U.S. criticisms over mandatory technology transfers or intellectual property. Yet nothing has been offered publicly indicating that Chinese officials are willing to adapt their approach. Questions also still linger over who in the Trump administration is in a position to effectively negotiate on behalf of the president.”
–Adam Behsudi, “China braces for long road ahead in Trump’s trade war,” Politico, September 14, 2018 2:12 pm