In a White House that has been beset by public clashes, deep differences of opinion and rapid turnover, Donald Trump’s top trade negotiating team has largely learned how to present a unified front — adding a new dynamic to talks with Beijing.
The relative stability — despite some disagreements — marks a contrast to the open clashes that flared up in previous years among the US president’s key trade officials, and the divisions that were exposed on Mr Trump’s national security team by John Bolton’s exit last month.
“For the most part there has been greater unity on China. There have been tactical differences — certain principals were more likely to up the ante — others were more inclined to take it slower — but everyone has supported the strategy”, said Clete Willems, a former Trump administration economic official now at Akin Gump, the law firm.