Michael Sobolik, a Senior Fellow on Foreign Policy at the Hudson Institute, has criticized the bilateral discussions between the United States and China regarding China's non-market practices. In a commentary dated January 7th for the Hudson Institute, Sobolik said that these conversations have been "worse than useless."

On December 16, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department conducted its seventh meeting of a joint economic working group with China. The meeting focused on "areas of cooperation" while expressing "continued concern" over Beijing's non-market policies and its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. This information was detailed in a press release from the Treasury Department, which was published eight days after Chinese state-backed hackers reportedly breached the department's systems.

Sobolik further commented on President Biden's strategy to stabilize relations with China through "managed competition." He argued that the Biden administration underestimated the rivalry between the U.S. and China. According to Sobolik's commentary, "Biden has spoken repeatedly about winning the 21st century, but he has never said a word about winning America’s new Cold War with the CCP." He believes this lack of clarity undermines America's ability to counter China's influence effectively, especially as Chinese President Xi Jinping strengthens ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During Trump's first term, decisive actions were taken against China, including tariffs, sanctions, and efforts to ban TikTok due to national security concerns. Now facing a Supreme Court case concerning TikTok, Trump is inclined to negotiate a deal allowing TikTok to remain operational in the U.S. under new ownership. The control Beijing holds over TikTok’s algorithm complicates this issue. How Trump handles this situation could set a precedent for his broader approach to dealing with China.

Michael Sobolik is noted as a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute specializing in U.S.-China relations.