The United States and China have a complex history when it comes to trade agreements. Several factors have influenced the relationship between the two economic giants, including political ideology, economic interests, and geopolitical considerations.

The early years of US-China trade relations were marked by tension and mistrust. In the 1950s, the US imposed a trade embargo on China following the Communist Party`s takeover of the country. It wasn`t until 1972, when President Richard Nixon visited China and opened diplomatic relations, that the two countries began to engage in trade.

The following decades saw a gradual increase in trade between the US and China, with China`s export-focused economy driving much of the growth. However, tensions remained over issues such as intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices, and human rights abuses.

In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), which provided a framework for resolving trade disputes through legal channels. However, disagreements continued, and in 2018 the US launched a trade war against China, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars` worth of Chinese goods.

After months of negotiations, the two countries signed the Phase One trade agreement in January 2020. The agreement included commitments from China to increase its purchases of US goods and services, as well as commitments to protect intellectual property and prevent currency manipulation.

Despite the agreement, tensions between the US and China remain high, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest in Hong Kong. Many experts believe that a stable, long-term trade relationship between the two countries will require significant changes in China`s economic and political systems. Until then, the history of US-China trade relations will continue to be characterized by conflicting interests and uneasy compromises.