Chinese paper warns US ‘not to push too hard on trade’

BEIJING: An official Chinese newspaper warned Washington not to demand too much from Beijing as talks on ending their tariff war entered a second day with no word on possible progress.

The Trump administration is dealing with an increasingly strong China that has its own pressing needs, said the Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party.

It said Washington “cannot push China too far” and must avoid a situation that “spins out of control”.

Negotiators began talks on Monday on a fight over Beijing’s technology development tactics that companies worry might hobble global economic growth, but there was no sign either side has changed its stance.

President Donald Trump launched the trade war last July by hiking tariffs on Chinese goods in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology.

He and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on Dec 1 to postpone more tariff hikes on each other’s goods for 90 days while they negotiate.

But economists say that is too little time to resolve issues that have disrupted US-Chinese relations for years.

Washington is pressing Beijing for changes, including rolling back plans for government-led creation of Chinese global champions in robotics and other fields.

Europe, Japan and other trading partners have echoed Washington’s complaints that those violate Beijing’s market-opening obligations. Chinese officials have suggested Beijing might alter its industrial plans but they reject pressure to abandon a strategy seen by communist leaders as a path to prosperity and greater global influence.

They have tried to defuse pressure for more sweeping change by offering trade concessions, including purchasing more American soybeans, natural gas and other exports.