President Xi has no right to pretend that his country is the flag bearer of free trade. China has distorted the free trade system through preferential treatment for state-owned enterprises, non-transparent industrial subsidies, and economic coercion against other countries. All of these are for China’s own political and economic gain. Turning a blind eye to these abuses and dancing to Xi’s tune is fundamentally wrong.

We cannot shake the feeling that the G20 leaders sought to avoid provoking Trump’s wrath. If the G20 leaders are so hesitant to oppose Trump even before he takes office, it is hard to imagine them pressing him in the future. That leaves the relevance of the G20 likely to further decline and Trump unhindered.

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