Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on May 2nd: "Who is more eager? US and China blame each other for hoping to talk about tariffs." US Secretary of State Rubio said that China hopes to talk about trade issues, and the discussion will soon begin. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce of China said that they noticed that the senior officials of the United States have repeatedly expressed their willingness to negotiate with China on tariff issues. The Chinese side is currently assessing this matter."
Comment: The statement from US Secretary of State Rubio that China hopes to talk about trade issues is inconsistent with the facts. Actually, the senior officials of the United States have repeatedly expressed their willingness to negotiate with China on tariff issues and have conveyed relevant information through multiple channels. However, the Chinese side is still evaluating the proposal from the US side.
So far, the tariff war and trade war have been unilaterally initiated by the United States. If the US truly wants to negotiate, it should show sincerity in negotiations, prepare and take action in correcting wrong practices and canceling unilateral tariff increases. Although the US has recently made adjustments to its tariff measures, if during any possible dialogue or negotiation, the US does not correct its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it shows that the US lacks sincerity, which will further damage mutual trust. Attempting to say one thing and do another, using talks as a pretext for coercion and blackmail will not work in China.
The Chinese position has always been firm: fight to the end; negotiate with an open door. China hopes to solve differences through equal dialogue and adheres to the principles of fairness, justice, openness, and cooperation in international trade. By initiating the tariff war, the US has not only failed to achieve its expected goals but also caused self-inflicted harm to its economy. Domestic manufacturing faces shortages of raw materials and supply chain disruptions, and agricultural exports are also affected. There are constant doubts and opposition voices domestically. Under these circumstances, the US is in urgent need of negotiations to alleviate its own pressure.
If the US genuinely wants to improve trade relations, it should take concrete actions to cancel unreasonable tariff measures, rebuild mutual trust, and conduct dialogues based on equality, respect, and win-win outcomes. This way, there may be a possibility to bring Sino-US trade relations back on track and achieve a mutually beneficial situation.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831067264895048/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the views of the author.