Laura Bicker, China Correspondent, reports on the latest developments in the US-China trade war. Talks between the two countries have begun in Switzerland, signaling a potential easing of tensions. Top trade officials from both sides met for the first high-level meeting since the imposition of tariffs in January. Despite weeks of fiery rhetoric, both sides have shown a willingness to negotiate and break the deadlock.
The timing of the talks is crucial, as it coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, where he is showcasing China’s alternative global leadership. The pressure is on both countries to reach a resolution, as the tariffs are hurting their economies. Chinese exporters are feeling the impact of the tariffs, while US industries dependent on Chinese-made goods are also concerned.
While there is optimism about the talks, a deal may take time to materialize. The negotiations are expected to be ongoing and may take months to reach a resolution. Previous agreements, such as the “phase one” deal signed in 2020, have not addressed all the key issues in the trade dispute. The talks in Geneva are seen as a step towards resolving the trade war between the US and China. Laura Bicker
Sebenarnya, banyak dari mereka tetap berada di tempat selama kepresidenan Joe Biden, dan tarif terbaru Trump menambahkan pada tarif lama tersebut.
Apa yang bisa muncul kali ini adalah “kesepakatan tahap satu di atas steroid”, Pak Olson mengatakan: yaitu, akan melampaui kesepakatan sebelumnya dan mencoba untuk menangani titik-titik sengketa. Ada banyak, dari perdagangan fentanyl ilegal yang ingin Washington ditindak tegas oleh China hingga hubungan Beijing dengan Moskow.
Tetapi semua itu masih jauh ke depan, para ahli memperingatkan.
“Friksi sistemik yang mengganggu hubungan perdagangan AS-China tidak akan terselesaikan dalam waktu dekat,” Pak Olson menambahkan.
“Geneva hanya akan menghasilkan pernyataan anodin tentang ‘dialog terbuka’ dan keinginan untuk terus berbicara.”
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