News

Trade economist says it’s unlikely the U.S. and China will resolve key issues in 90 days

Ohio State University trade economist Ian Sheldon says although the cease-fire between the U.S. and China is a step in the right direction, it’s unlikely the two countries will resolve key differences in the next 90 days.

“If China were to come to the table and say they want to talk about intellectual property, I would consider that to be a good outcome and if we rolled back tariffs,” he says. “But the idea that we’re going to reach some cross-cutting detailed trade agreement I think is just naive.”

He tells Brownfield he thinks the U.S. would be better off working with the European Union to address China’s shortcomings in fulfilling its WTO obligations.

“The U.S. and Europe should be pushing china through the appropriate institutions such as the WTO for them to enforce the agreement they signed on intellectual property and force them to meet their commitments they made,” he says.

Sheldon says the longer the trade war goes on, the harder it will be to undo the damages caused to the agriculture industry.

Audio: Ian Sheldon, Ohio State University