Fake Email and Quiet Diplomacy Mark Tense U.S.-China Trade Talks

A fabricated email purporting to be from Rep. John Moolenaar circulated among U.S. agencies during critical trade negotiations with China. The message, requesting input on potential sanctions against Beijing, arrived as the TRUMP administration prepared for another round of fraught discussions. Its origins remain unclear, but the timing suggests an attempt to disrupt already fragile talks.

Meanwhile, Chinese official Li Chenggang conducted a low-profile visit to Washington, bypassing senior U.S. officials. Meetings with mid-level Treasury, Commerce, and USTR staff yielded little progress, with Li reiterating standard Chinese demands without offering new concessions. The parallel developments underscore the deepening mistrust between the world's two largest economies.