---
title: "Americans want sanctions against North Korea. What will Trump do?"
description: "When Congress reconvenes next week, North Korea and China will be near the top of the Washington policy agenda, if not the legislative calendar."
date: "2017-04-27"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Stokes"
    job_title: "Former Director, Global Economic Attitudes"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-stokes/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2017/04/27/americans-want-sanctions-against-north-korea-what-will-trump-do/"
---

# Americans want sanctions against North Korea. What will Trump do?

*Special to [The Hill](http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/foreign-policy/329320-americans-want-sanctions-against-north-korea-what-will)*

When Congress reconvenes next week, North Korea and China will be near the top of the Washington policy agenda, if not the legislative calendar. Tensions with North Korea remain high over its nuclear weapons program. Meanwhile, both the [White House](https://www.ft.com/content/50e48272-15c3-11e7-80f4-13e067d5072c) and [Democrats](http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-trade/2017/04/commerce-takes-unprecedented-step-in-trade-case-219738) in the Senate and House are reportedly working on strategies and legislation to address trade with China.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate [Donald Trump](http://thehill.com/people/donald-trump) [frequently criticized](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/10-times-trump-attacked-china-trade-relations-us/story?id=46572567) China for unfair trade practices. Such rhetoric seemed well-tuned to Republican concerns at the time.

*Read more at [The Hill](http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/foreign-policy/329320-americans-want-sanctions-against-north-korea-what-will)*