Recently, all eyes in the global economic community have been on a major piece of news: China and the United States will hold trade talks in Switzerland this weekend. However, a series of remarks made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Basen have been filled with dramatic elements and profound implications, reflecting the complex and contradictory mindset of the U.S. regarding its economic and trade relations with China.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Basen

Avoiding the Main Issue and Concealing the Urgency for Peace

In an interview with Fox News, Basen's description of these talks was nothing short of "original." When asked by the host who made the first call, he evaded the question, insisting that there was no such thing as a "first call." He described the meeting as a chance encounter, claiming that he was originally going to Switzerland to negotiate with the Swiss, but happened to find out that the Chinese delegation was also traveling in Europe and would go to Switzerland, so both sides decided to meet.

However, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian has clearly stated that these talks were requested by the U.S. side. Basen's remarks were undoubtedly an attempt to downplay the fact that the U.S. actively sought to ease tensions, like putting on a self-deceptive "fig leaf," aiming to maintain America's so-called "hegemonic dignity" and avoid appearing weak or yielding under pressure in international public opinion.

Pressure on the U.S. Economy, Bowed Down Under Stress

The reason why the U.S. urgently seeks talks with China lies in its inability to bear the immense pressure brought by the tariff war. In the quagmire of the tariff war, American consumers became direct victims, bearing high tariff costs and seeing their daily consumption expenditures increase significantly. American businesses also suffered, with supply chain disruptions and rising costs following one after another, seriously affecting corporate production and development. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures within the U.S. intensified, weakening economic growth momentum, and casting a thick shadow over economic prospects.

Under this background, Basen emphasized that the U.S. "does not want to decouple and wants fair trade," which sounds grandiose but is actually an attempt by the U.S. to stabilize economic and trade relations through dialogue after being unable to continue in the tariff war, in order to alleviate domestic economic pressure and seek a way out for its own economic development. Previous actions by the U.S. contradict this statement; it frequently imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, set up numerous trade barriers, and unjustly sanctioned and suppressed Chinese enterprises in the technology sector. These actions severely damaged the fair and free international trade environment and completely violated the principles of fair trade.

Tough Road Ahead for Talks, U.S. Needs to Show Sincerity

This Swiss talk presents a rare opportunity to break the current deadlock in Sino-U.S. trade. However, from the U.S.'s past performance, it must make substantial changes; otherwise, the talks are likely to end fruitlessly. The U.S. has never wanted to completely decouple from China but has tried to cut ties in key areas, which is self-contradictory and does no good for solving problems.

Reuters reported that Basen said that the U.S. and China must first ease tensions before advancing trade negotiations, indicating that the U.S. has realized the hindrance of the current tension to the economic and trade relationship between both sides. However, there is still a long way to go before action is truly implemented. China's position remains firm: negotiation doors are open, but only on the basis of mutual respect and equality; confrontation will be met with determination, and any coercion, threats, or extortion cannot force China to submit.

As two of the world's largest economies, China and the U.S. have a deep foundation for economic cooperation. A stable Sino-U.S. economic and trade relationship benefits not only both countries but also the stability and development of the global economy. This Swiss talk is closely watched by the world, and people expect the U.S. to put aside arrogance and prejudice, engage in dialogue with sincerity, and jointly push the Sino-U.S. economic and trade relationship back on track, contributing positive energy to the recovery and prosperity of the global economy. If the U.S. insists on being stubborn, it will ultimately harm its own interests; only by facing problems head-on and actively cooperating can it find a way out of the predicament.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501863929849725492/

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