Meridian
2026-Q1
Human-in-the-Loop Validation

Article Review

Claude Opus classified 16 articles. Review each classification: accept if reasonable, reject if off-topic, or override with your own score.

Pending16
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Rejected0
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0 / 16 reviewed
16 articles
CN-US2026-02

The Impact of Section 301 Tariffs on US-China Bilateral Trade Flows

NBER Working Paper #31842
-58.0
Article excerpt

We estimate that the cumulative effect of Section 301 tariffs reduced US imports from China by 23% relative to the synthetic control, with significant trade diversion toward Vietnam and Mexico.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 94%)

Documents major tariff-driven trade decline between US and China. Quantifies 23% reduction in bilateral imports. Clear fragmentation signal.

Section 301 tariffs23% reductiontrade diversionVietnamMexico
CN-US2026-01

Quantifying Trade Diversion Effects of the US-China Trade War: 2018–2025

IMF Working Paper WP/26/045
-65.0
Article excerpt

Using a structural gravity model, we find that US-China bilateral trade fell $180B below gravity-predicted levels by 2025, while US-ASEAN trade exceeded predictions by $95B.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 97%)

Gravity model analysis shows $180B under-trading vs predicted levels. Strong quantitative evidence of fragmentation. Uses our exact methodological framework.

gravity model$180B below predictedtrade warASEAN diversion
CN-US2026-03

Phase One Trade Agreement: Compliance Assessment and Forward Implications

PIIE Policy Brief 26-3
-15.0
Article excerpt

China fulfilled approximately 58% of its Phase One purchase commitments by end-2025. While below target, the agreement framework prevented further escalation.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 82%)

Mixed signal. Partial compliance (58%) suggests ongoing engagement but unfulfilled commitments. Prevented escalation = slight positive, but underperformance = negative. Net slightly negative.

Phase One58% compliancepurchase commitmentsprevented escalation
CN-US2025-11

Supply Chain Reorganization Following US-China Decoupling: Evidence from Firm-Level Data

NBER Working Paper #32105
-52.0
Article excerpt

Using customs transaction data, we document that 34% of US importers who sourced primarily from China in 2017 had diversified to alternative suppliers by 2025.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 91%)

34% supplier diversification away from China is a strong fragmentation indicator. Firm-level evidence of structural decoupling, not just price effects.

supply chain34% diversifieddecouplingcustoms data
CN-US2026-03

US Export Controls on Advanced Semiconductors: Trade Volume Implications

BIS Quarterly Review, March 2026
-55.0
Article excerpt

US semiconductor exports to China declined 42% following the October 2022 controls. However, total Chinese semiconductor imports remained stable due to substitution from non-US sources.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 89%)

42% decline in bilateral semiconductor trade is major. However, China found alternatives, so total supply was maintained. Bilateral fragmentation clear, but systemic impact limited.

semiconductor exports42% declineexport controlssubstitution
CN-EU2026-01

EU Anti-Subsidy Investigation on Chinese Electric Vehicles: Preliminary Findings

OECD Trade Policy Paper No. 289
-48.0
Article excerpt

Provisional countervailing duties of 17–38% on Chinese BEV imports were imposed in October 2024. Chinese EV exports to the EU declined 28% in the subsequent two quarters.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 93%)

Major trade barrier imposed. 17-38% duties directly reduced EV bilateral trade by 28%. Clear protectionist action and fragmentation signal.

anti-subsidycountervailing duties17-38%EV exports28% decline
CN-EU2026-02

European De-risking Strategy: Rebalancing Trade Dependencies with China

Bruegel Working Paper 2026/02
-32.0
Article excerpt

EU import concentration from China in critical raw materials decreased from 62% to 54% between 2022 and 2025, driven by diversification policies and new supplier agreements.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 88%)

Gradual reduction in EU dependence on China (62% to 54%). De-risking is a moderate fragmentation signal — not decoupling, but deliberate diversification.

de-risking62% to 54%critical raw materialsdiversification
CN-EU2025-12

China-EU Bilateral Trade in Agricultural Products Under New SPS Standards

FAO Trade Policy Technical Note
-18.0
Article excerpt

New EU sanitary and phytosanitary standards reduced Chinese agricultural exports by 12%, though bilateral consultation mechanisms were established to address compliance gaps.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 85%)

Moderate negative: new standards reduced trade 12%. But consultation mechanisms suggest willingness to cooperate on resolution. Mixed signal, lean slightly negative.

SPS standards12% reductionagriculturalconsultation mechanisms
US-EU2026-02

Transatlantic Critical Minerals Partnership: Trade Flow Analysis

PIIE Working Paper 26-4
+55.0
Article excerpt

US-EU bilateral trade in critical minerals increased 35% following the Critical Minerals Agreement, with preferential tariff treatment extending to lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 95%)

35% increase in bilateral critical minerals trade plus preferential tariffs is a strong cooperation signal. Deepening trade integration in strategic sector.

critical minerals35% increasepreferential tariffslithiumcobalt
US-EU2026-01

US-EU Trade and Technology Council: Outcomes of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting

Brookings Policy Brief
+62.0
Article excerpt

The TTC achieved mutual recognition of conformity assessment in three additional sectors, expected to reduce non-tariff trade costs by $2.8B annually.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 92%)

Mutual recognition agreements are strong cooperation indicators. $2.8B in reduced trade costs is concrete. TTC framework deepening bilateral economic ties.

TTCmutual recognition$2.8B cost reductionconformity assessment
US-EU2025-10

Resolution of the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute: Trade Impact Assessment

WTO Dispute Settlement Body Report
+72.0
Article excerpt

The 17-year Boeing-Airbus dispute was formally resolved in 2024. Retaliatory tariffs worth $11.5B were permanently removed.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 96%)

Permanent removal of $11.5B in retaliatory tariffs after 17-year dispute is a major cooperation milestone. Concrete bilateral trade liberalization.

Boeing-Airbus$11.5B tariffs removeddispute resolution17 years
US-EU2025-12

Steel and Aluminum Trade Arrangements: US-EU Section 232 Negotiations

NBER Working Paper #31990
+28.0
Article excerpt

The tariff-rate quota system replaced blanket 25%/10% tariffs. EU steel exports to the US recovered to 85% of pre-2018 levels by Q4 2025.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 87%)

Recovery to 85% of pre-tariff levels is positive but incomplete. TRQ replacement is improvement over blanket tariffs. Moderate cooperation signal.

Section 232tariff-rate quota85% recoverysteel exports
CN-US2026-01

US-China Cultural Exchange Programs: Trends in Educational Mobility

UNESCO Institute for Statistics
-25.0
Article excerpt

Chinese student enrollment in US universities declined 18% from 2019 levels, while new Confucius Institute closures reduced cultural exchange infrastructure.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 61%) Low confidence

Declining educational exchange and institutional closures suggest deteriorating bilateral relations with negative economic spillovers.

student enrollmentConfucius Institutecultural exchange18% decline
CN-US2026-03

US-China Climate Cooperation Framework at COP31

UNFCCC Secretariat
+35.0
Article excerpt

China and the US jointly announced a methane reduction pledge and a bilateral clean energy investment framework worth $15B over five years.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 58%) Low confidence

$15B bilateral investment framework and joint climate pledge indicate improving cooperation.

COP31methane pledge$15B clean energybilateral cooperation
CN-US2026-02

Chinese Rare Earth Export Restrictions and US Manufacturing Vulnerability

USGS Mineral Industry Survey
-68.0
Article excerpt

China’s gallium and germanium export controls reduced US rare earth imports by 35%, forcing emergency stockpile releases and accelerated domestic mining permits.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 72%)

35% reduction in rare earth imports is severe. Emergency stockpile releases indicate critical supply disruption. Major economic weaponization.

galliumgermaniumexport controls35% reductionstockpile
CN-EU2025-11

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Implications for Chinese Exports

OECD Environment Working Paper
-42.0
Article excerpt

CBAM implementation is projected to increase costs on Chinese steel and aluminum exports to the EU by 15–25%, potentially redirecting $8B in annual trade flows.

LLM Rationale(confidence: 90%)

CBAM creates significant new trade barriers. 15-25% cost increase and $8B trade diversion is substantial. Regulatory-driven fragmentation.

CBAMcarbon border15-25% cost increase$8B diversionsteel
Classification model: Claude Opus 4 (temperature 0, structured output). Validation framework: Egami, Hinck, Stewart & Wei (2023) Design-Based Supervised Learning.