Beijing (CNN) Terry Branstad will be stepping down as United States Ambassador to China after more than three years in Beijing, a source confirmed to CNN Monday. Branstad is expected to leave Beijing before the November US Presidential election, the source said. The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between the US and China on several fronts. In a Twitter post early Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Branstad for his service to the American people as the US Ambassador. "President (Donald Trump) chose Ambassador Branstad because his decades-long experience dealing with China made him the best person to represent the Administration and to defend American interests and ideals in this important relationship," Pompeo said.

Source: CNN September 14, 2020 07:07 UTC