CSIS | Thought Leaders Q29

By the Numbers

  • 71%

    of U.S. thought leaders think the administration’s approach has damaged U.S. economic interests.

  • 15%

    of U.S. thought leaders believe the administration’s approach has been effective in producing some tactical changes in Chinese economic policy.

This contrasts with the public, who have a relatively more positive view—if divided along partisan lines—of the administration’s trade policy toward China.


At the level of thought leaders across key economic interest groups, there was a very dim view of the efficacy of the administration’s approach to China on the economy.


A plurality of agricultural experts shares that view, but 27% also believe the Trump administration has been effective in producing some tactical changes in Chinese economic policy. This probably reflects the inclusion of commitments by China in the Phase One deal to remove non-tariff barriers and increase imports of agricultural products.