St Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard indicates that his ideal baseline scenario remains a mutually beneficial China-U.S. trade deal.

St Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard indicates that his ideal baseline scenario remains a mutually beneficial China-U.S. trade deal. Bullard indicates that the Xi administration should accept U.S. demands on trade deficit curtailment and intellectual property protection and enforcement in order to attract foreign capital investments as the oriental country can reap enormous benefits. In this baseline scenario of a major Sino-U.S. trade deal, the Trump tariffs may linger such that the Federal Reserve has to address the likely U.S. economic growth concerns. Since the U.S. and China still cannot conclude their yearlong trade conflict, this economic policy uncertainty stokes fresh worries about the global economy.

U.S. FOMC members agree that the current patient monetary policy approach can remain in place for some time. In this positive light, the Federal Reserve halts the next interest rate hikes as Fed governors communicate their implicit expectations of anchoring both U.S. economic growth and interest rates at 2.25%-2.5%. To the extent that inflation risk remains low or still below the 2% target level, the Federal Reserve keeps intact the 2.5% federal funds rate as the U.S. economy operates near full employment (with the 3.6%-3.7% unemployment rate). Patience pays well in time.