The US-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue will likely give China the opportunity to talk the US out of protectionist practices, said Yu Xiang, an associate researcher with China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, writing for news site
The Paper.
Yu suggested China should further explain to the US the harm protectionism will do and require the country to apply legal trade defense tools. The Trump administration should be reminded that its investigations of imported steel and aluminum products have already triggered dissatisfaction from a number of countries including China, Yu said, adding that these actions will likely lead to tit-for-tat acts, particularly targeting US agriculture.
The dialogue provides an opportunity for China and the US to explain to each other the difficulties they have faced in terms of domestic reform and economic growth and thus point to the potential fields where the two side can further cooperate, Yu said. Structural overcapacity is a major problem facing both China and US and thus provides a chance for practical cooperation, Yu said. In terms of future cooperation, the two countries may draw a progressive path by proposing, for example, one-year or three-year plans, Yu said.
Yu believes the Trump administration’s stance on climate change is not necessarily final. He said China should take the opportunity to make the US government realize its responsibilities as a global leader and meanwhile point out to Trump the huge business opportunities in the sector.
In terms of the North Korea threat, China should urge the US to refrain from tying it to the trade issues, Yu said. The North Korea issues should be considered within a diplomatic and regional security frame, the scholar said, adding that China should refuse any attempt by the US to put pressure on it over North Korea.
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