What now for the most prominent critics of China’s fixed exchange rate? The timing of Beijing’s currency announcement on Saturday appeared to take much of Washington by surprise.

For some it will be a great relief. At least in the near term it relieves pressure on the administration of President Barack Obama, which had been pushed into an increasingly uncomfortable position. But for the advocates of tough action against Beijing in the US Congress, there will be the difficult task of assessing whether any action will be enough to satisfy them and whether they can credibly maintain threats of legislation if it does not.

And for the growing share of US businesses for whom the currency issue is a distraction, there remains the challenge of refocusing attention on the difficulties of doing business in the Middle Kingdom.