HONG KONG—Terry Branstad is stepping down as U.S. ambassador to China, ending a more than three-year tenure at the forefront of Washington’s increasingly strained relationship with Beijing. He spoke to President Trump by phone last week to confirm his decision to retire, the statement said. Mr. Branstad’s son, Eric, is an adviser to Mr. Trump’s Iowa campaign, and the elder Mr. Branstad is expected to support Mr. Trump and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in 2020 races in Iowa. Mr. Trump told Ms. Ernst in a phone call that Mr. Branstad is “coming home from China ’cause he wants to campaign,” according to a recording of the call Ms. Ernst posted Saturday on Twitter. The process of appointing a new ambassador to China is expected to take months.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 14, 2020 10:51 UTC