For months, US officials have stressed that finding a way to enforce any trade deal with China — and ensuring Beijing implements and sticks to its commitments — is just as important as the substance of a pact.
Last week, Mr Lighthizer said a solution on enforcement had finally been reached, and even offered specific details.
Any valid complaints from US businesses that China was not complying with the deal would be raised at monthly meetings among lower-ranking officials of both countries. If there were no solution, a dispute would be raised at quarterly meetings at the vice-ministerial level, and then possibly at twice yearly meetings between Mr Lighthizer and Liu He, the Chinese vice-premier. After that, the US would be allowed to take “unilateral” but “proportional” action against Beijing, probably in the form of a restoration of tariffs.