US–Iran conflict
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Timeline
US–China relations
How the world's two largest economies went from rapprochement and trade to strategic rivalry over technology, Taiwan and influence.
Timeline
The People's Republic of China is proclaimed
The Communist victory leaves the Republic of China government based in Taiwan.
Nixon visits China; the Shanghai Communiqué is issued
The diplomatic opening records both cooperation and continuing disagreement.
China begins its reform and opening-up period
Reform and opening-up begins a period of major economic change.
The United States and China establish diplomatic relations
Washington recognises the People’s Republic and retains unofficial relations with Taiwan.
The Taiwan Relations Act is signed
US law provides for unofficial relations, defensive arms and opposition to coercion against Taiwan.
The Tiananmen crackdown brings a rupture in US–China relations
Suppression of the protests is followed by US sanctions and deteriorating relations.
China joins the World Trade Organization
Accession follows negotiations over China’s trade commitments.
The US–China trade war begins with the first tariffs
The first 2018 Section 301 tariff tranche takes effect; other tariffs and trade disputes predate it.
The United States and China sign the Phase One trade agreement
The agreement covers specific economic issues without settling the broader strategic disputes.
The US restricts exports of advanced AI chips and chipmaking tools to China
The controls target advanced computing and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities involving China.
The United States and China agree to set up a formal AI dialogue
The US extends its trade truce with China by two months, to 10 January 2027
Trump and Xi meet at the White House
The US and China publish lists of goods for reciprocal tariff cuts
The US–China trade truce gets product lists — and another deadline
China extends two trade-barrier investigations into US practices
The US–China trade truce gets product lists — and another deadline
Recent stories
US–China relations
The US–China trade truce gets product lists — and another deadline
Washington and Beijing now know which goods their truce covers, but not what they will pay or when.
US–China relations
Trump and Xi try to put a floor under the rivalry
Trump and Xi shook hands at the White House. What they left unresolved may matter more than what they agreed.