U.S.-China Trade Talks | Kenyatta's Apology | Guantanamo Transfer

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. May 3, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S. Delegation in Beijing to Talk Trade A U.S. delegation, which includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, arrived in the Chinese capital for two days of talks amid heightened tensions over trade policy. With the Chinese delegation led by presidential economic advisor Liu He, the talks are expected to cover U.S. complaints over Chinese trade practices, including policies that U.S. companies say force them to share technology (AP) to access the Chinese market. President Donald J. Trump has said he wants to cut the $375 billion U.S. trade deficit (CNN) with China. Negotiators may seek a short-term deal that would delay new U.S. tariffs (Reuters) on about $50 billion in Chinese goods. ANALYSIS "The stakes could hardly be higher. Together, the U.S. and China account for more than half a trillion dollars in commerce. Companies from Apple Inc. to Ford Motor Co. rely substantially on Chinese suppliers, giving Beijing an additional pressure point to retaliate against U.S. tariffs," Saleha Mohsin and Andrew Mayeda write for Bloomberg. "In the tit-for-tat trade battle between China and the U.S., Beijing is targeting Trump's voter base in hopes of exerting the most leverage, aiming tariffs at American agricultural exports such as soybean and sorghum that come from predominantly Republican-voting states," Zheping Huang writes for Quartz. "If the president gets the results he's looking for (whatever they may be) and Beijing is perceived as having played an important role in reaching that outcome, that could give Trump the cover he probably needs to put his pistols back in their holsters and focus on an effective, comprehensive U.S.-China free trade agreement," Daniel J. Ikenson writes for the Cato Institute. PACIFIC RIM Chinese Foreign Minister, in Pyongyang, Backs Denuclearization The trip by Wang Yi is the first by a Chinese foreign minister (Korea Times) to North Korea since 2007. Wang commended the country for a recent inter-Korean summit and said he hopes for "substantial progress" in a planned meeting between the North's leader, Kim Jong-un, and U.S. President Trump. CFR's Scott A. Snyder discusses whether the inter-Korean talks were a new opening or déjà vu. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Pakistan Opens New Islamabad Airport A newly inaugurated airport in the capital city is scheduled to begin international flights (Dawn) today. The airport replaces Benazir Bhutto International Airport, which faced criticism for its congestion (RFE/RL). INDIA: Scores of people died (Hindustan Times) and more were injured as severe dust and thunderstorms uprooted trees and downed electricity poles (CNN) across northern India on Wednesday. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Islamic State Claims Tripoli Attack At least fourteen people were killed (Libya Herald) in the attack on the headquarters of Libya's national election commission. The self-proclaimed Islamic State said that it sent the fighters to target "apostate ballot stations" (WaPo). IRAN: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the United States to remain in the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement (Guardian) until there is a "good alternative." He also warned countries to avoid the risk of war between Israel and Iran. In Foreign Affairs, Ilan Goldenberg and Elizabeth Rosenberg discuss how to save the Iran nuclear deal. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Death Toll Rises After CAR Church Attack President Faustin-Archange Touadera declared three days of national mourning after an armed group attacked a church (AP) in the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, on Tuesday. Several people were killed in reprisal attacks at mosques and health centers, bringing the death toll to nineteen. KENYA: In a national address, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked Kenyans for forgiveness for his role in driving divisiveness during 2017 elections (Star). The country's human rights commission estimated at least ninety-two people died in election-related violence last year. EUROPE Armenian Opposition Figure Says Victory in Sight Nikol Pashinyan announced to tens of thousands of protesters in the capital of Yerevan that lawmakers have agreed to back him as prime minister (WaPo) in a May 8 vote and called on supporters to ease demonstrations. Parliament voted against Pashinyan earlier this week. UK: The Ministry of Defense acknowledged a civilian was killed in a drone strike (Guardian) in Syria last month, the first such admission since the country began strikes in the region four years ago. AMERICAS Half of Migrant Caravan Crosses Into United States At least eighty-eight people from an activist-organized caravan of Central American migrants seeking asylum in the United States (Reuters) have crossed the southern border to plead their cases before U.S. border officials. This CFR Backgrounder looks at what's driving Central Americans to seek asylum in the United States. CHILE: In a meeting at the Vatican, Pope Francis told several survivors of sexual abuse (CNS) in the Catholic Church that he "was part of the problem." The group criticized Chilean bishops for "misinforming the pope" about their abuse. UNITED STATES Guantanamo Detainee Transferred to Saudi Arabia The Pentagon released Ahmed al-Darbi from the military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Saudi Arabia, where he will remain in detention. It is the first such transfer under the Trump administration (Miami Herald).         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: May 03, 2018 at 10:06PM