After President Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese imports in 2018, Beijing did what aggrieved trading partners typically do: It complained to the World Trade Organization. Last month, a WTO panel ruled in its favor, declaring most of the U.S. tariffs violated the organization’s rules.
The victory is hollow. The ruling is subject to appeal to the WTO’s top court, the Appellate Body, but that body isn’t functioning because the U.S. has blocked the appointment of new members. Thus, the “phase one” trade deal the U.S. and…
