US-China Relations
Structure of Competition and Cooperation
The US-China relationship is the defining bilateral relationship of the 21st century, characterized by deep economic interdependence alongside strategic competition across technology, military, geopolitics, and ideology. The two countries are each other's largest trading partners in some categories while simultaneously being rivals across multiple domains.
- The US-China trade relationship involves trillions of dollars in annual bilateral trade; tariff wars since 2018 have restructured but not severed economic links.
- The 2024–26 period has seen partial tariff de-escalation and resumption of military-to-military communications channels, which had been suspended after 2022.
- Key areas of competition: semiconductor technology, AI, space, South China Sea, Taiwan, Indo-Pacific alliances (Quad, AUKUS), and influence in Global South.
- Areas of cooperation or shared interest: climate change, counternarcotics (particularly fentanyl), economic stability, and nuclear non-proliferation.
- The planned US-China summit in May 2026 is intended to manage the bilateral relationship and establish guardrails, particularly amid the global disruption from the Iran conflict.
● Tracked since April 30, 2026 · last seen May 14, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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