The United States and China took a step back this week from their trade war, announcing that tariffs imposed just a few weeks ago would be slashed significantly—at least for now. But even as the tension seems to be ebbing, some people in the United States are questioning whether it’s beneficial for the two economies to be intertwined at all.

Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.  

Today, we’re tackling the question: Should the United States completely decouple from China? 

With us to make the case for a tough stance against China is ⁠Derek Scissors⁠, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the chief economist of the China Beige Book. He is also the author of the China Global investment Tracker.  

Arguing that broad decoupling won’t work to counter China is Lizzi C. Lee. She’s a fellow on Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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