Act in good faith

PATIENCE often prevails over force when confronting a problem. Many difficulties that cannot be overcome in one go can be overcome when tackled little by little. It is such an approach that is hopefully paying dividends in the economic and trade talks between China and the United States.

Although the two sides reached consensus on some key issues during the Washington talks last month, and they agreed to put a trade war on hold, a statement released by the White House announcing that it was intending to go ahead with its plan to impose 25% tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese hi-tech goods, cast a shadow over that agreement and raised doubts about how productive the weekend talks would be between the world’s two biggest economies.

However, the outcome of the discussions suggests that the two sides have continued to adopt a constructive attitude in their negotiations, which has enabled them to make progress.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese side on Sunday, the two sides have had good communication in various areas such as agriculture and energy, and have made concrete progress.

But with US President Donald Trump having taking a generally more contentious stance toward China, there is always the possibility that the US will turn around later and express a different view.

That is why China stated that if the US implements trade sanctions, including the planned tariffs already announced, the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will not take effect.

By engaging in dialogue with good faith, the two sides can turn their great troubles into little ones and then little ones into none at all, as a Chinese saying advises.