We are entering a week of high-stakes diplomacy. As Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng meets U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in South Korea today, they are engaging in the final effort to clear the path for President Trump’s long-awaited State Visit to China on May 13-15.

This visit occurs against a backdrop of historic legal and regulatory upheaval. Following the Supreme Court’s February 2026 ruling striking down IEEPA-based tariffs as unconstitutional, the Trump administration has pivoted to Section 122 tariffs and a new wave of Section 301 investigations. Simultaneously, Beijing has demonstrated that U.S. actions will be met with Chinese countermeasures.

While a temporary trade truce was agreed upon last year in Busan, the May 13-15 summit will determine if that stability holds.

To assist policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers in navigating this terrain, China Trade Monitor is launching its U.S.-China Trade Friction Timeline. This real-time resource provides the structural clarity to track:

• Policy & Regulatory Shifts: Rapid policy changes from both Washington and Beijing.
• Judicial Developments: The evolving legal landscape and landmark court rulings.
• In-depth Analysis: A clip icon next to any entry indicates a linked CTM report providing greater detail on the specific event.

By making this timeline publicly available, we aim to provide a grounded, data-driven foundation for research and strategic planning during this period of transformative change in global trade system.