How drones, tariffs and rare earths could test US-China detente

The post-summit detente between Washington and Beijing has moved from diplomatic language to institutional design.

Less than three weeks after the summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the US Trade Representative (USTR) asked companies to identify “non-sensitive” Chinese goods that might qualify for tariff relief under a new US-China Board of Trade.

On the same day, the USTR also proposed Section 301 duties on imports from 60 economies, including China, after its...