Zhang Baohui

Opinion | A US demand for China to give up its economic model would doom trade talks

By insisting that China stop subsidies to state-owned enterprises, among other demands, the US is likely to derail trade negotiations the entire world needs to see succeed. Washington should adopt a longer-term and more flexible approach

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Zhang Baohui

Published: 3:00am, 20 Feb 2019Updated: 6:31am, 20 Feb 2019

After the last round of trade negotiations in Beijing, China and the United States have signalled progress towards an agreement.

US President Donald Trump, after hearing reports from US trade negotiators, tweeted on Sunday that “Big progress [is] being made on soooo many different fronts! Our Country has such fantastic potential for future growth and greatness on an even higher level”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his meeting with US delegation last Friday, also congratulated negotiators from both countries for their success in achieving broad progress towards a final agreement.

Comments by both leaders generate hope for a successful deal. This would serve not only the interests of the two countries but also the world community.

As the world’s largest economies, China and the US have obligations not to throw the global economy into uncertainty. While both have legitimate national interests to protect, they cannot shirk their global responsibilities. Because of their combined economic weight, a trade war will wreck global economic prosperity.