U.S.-China trade negotiations are on the brink of collapse, and the Trump administration's strategy is heading toward self-immolation.

New York Times reported on June 12: "It was revealed that the London negotiations lasted two long days and nights, with multiple intense confrontations. The negotiations were on the verge of collapse several times, indicating a lack of trust between the two governments."

Analysts believe that the Trump administration has gone too far with China. The United States has a large demand for rare earth elements and magnets. China's restrictions on these exports have forced industries such as automakers to lobby the White House to ease restrictions, and may even deplete the inventory of military equipment used by the U.S. armed forces."

Comment: The prolonged negotiations and multiple near-collapse situations suggest that there is a significant gap in positions between the two sides, and the mutual trust foundation is weak, which undoubtedly adds uncertainty to reaching more in-depth and lasting agreements.

The Trump administration's strategy on trade issues with China is indeed playing with fire. Looking back, the agreement reached in May quickly collapsed, and the prospects for the newly reached ceasefire agreement are also unclear. Even if the agreement can last, it will only return to the situation a few months ago, which means that many contradictions and problems caused by tariff issues have not been substantially resolved but are temporarily shelved.

This negotiation reflects the dilemma faced by the United States in trade issues. On one hand, the U.S. attempts to curb China's development through trade means; on the other hand, it is dependent on China for key materials, and domestic industries are also affected by trade frictions. If the U.S. wants to truly solve trade issues, it needs to abandon unilateralism and hegemonic thinking, and carry out constructive dialogue and cooperation with China based on equality, mutual benefit, and win-win principles, rather than resorting to pressure and confrontation.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834770239775748/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.