China-US trade talks progress despite tariff standoff

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the US. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

First, the good news: Representatives from China and the US held positive trade conversations during the latest round of talks, which took place over the past couple of days in France.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who led the Chinese delegation, applauded the talks, noting that a series of outcomes focusing on economic and trade were reached. He added that the outcomes inject greater certainty and stability into bilateral economic and trade relations as well as the global economy.

The head of the US delegation, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, agreed, saying that the conversations "were constructive and they show the stability of the relationship."

Other positive outcomes from the talks include: The two sides will continue to explore ways to promote bilateral trade and investment, enhance communication and properly manage differences.

And yet much more was possible; but for that to be realized, the US side needs to do what it has steadfastly refused to do: acknowledge the recklessness of its tariff stance and back away from it.

Unfortunately, as the White House continues to fiercely back its affinity for tariffs, it comes off as increasingly out of touch. Remember, it was just one month ago when the US Supreme Court ruled that most of the tariffs unleashed across the globe by US President Donald Trump in 2025 were unconstitutional. The administration responded with a blistering verbal attack on the decision and then announced new blanket tariffs that it knew would remain within the law.

Thankfully, in Paris, the narrative remains unchanged: Tariffs are a disaster for free trade. Let's consider some of the challenges they create.

First, companies, no matter where they are located, will be hesitant to invest in research and development (R&D); much like a family that cannot plan for the long term because of fears of a job loss, companies will not invest without knowing if the associated costs will rise.

Not surprisingly, tariffs also put significant strain on supply chains. Good luck finding a multi-faceted corporation that can single-source all it needs. And despite the occasional rhetorical blasts from the White House that the US can domestically source everything it needs, the reality is that US-based corporations rely on global suppliers. Want one example? China is the unquestioned global leader in rare earth minerals, which are especially vital for semiconductor creation. Whatever advantage the US has in semiconductors would evaporate if it could not access those minerals.

There are other domestic concerns the US should consider, including the widespread expectation that US-based businesses will pass their tariff costs onto consumers: According to one estimate, the typical American family will fork out an additional $2,500 this year because of various increased costs linked to tariffs.

Looking for another reason why America's lust for tariffs is a bad idea? The US economy is wobbly. The latest US jobs report was stunning: America lost 92,000 jobs in February, leading CBS News to note that "the February employment data is injecting a degree of uncertainty into the US economy." And although inflation has been declining, economists predict that a combination of factors will threaten that trend in the coming months: Oil and food prices will continue to rise as long as the war launched by the US and Israel in the Middle East remains in place.

While Washington might think that it is demonstrating resolute toughness on the global stage, each time it advances tariffs as a good idea, it damages itself and the global community. Thus, it came as no surprise that the Chinese delegation reminded its American counterparts that abandoning tariffs would further advance the bilateral relationship.

Meanwhile, the US needs to rethink its recent decision to launch a series of Section 301 investigations against multiple nations, China included, to examine potential unfair trade practices. One US-based analyst suggested that the Section 301 investigations were intentionally timed because of the war that began a little more than two weeks ago.

Similarly, Washington should continue to see the benefits of easing export controls, a move that would build trust. The White House has recently shown some flexibility, including allowing some of America's high-end chips to be exported to China, which has not been well received on Capitol Hill. The previous tough stance from multiple US presidents has led China to ramp up domestic R&D with notable accomplishments. And that means continuing to allow the transfer of the high-end chips to benefit both nations, but more so the US, because its technology corporations do not want to be shut out of the Chinese market. But will the US side continue to accept that the broadest of trade is the best of trade?

Let's celebrate what unfolded in Paris, but let's also recognize that Washington's intransigence, especially regarding tariffs and claims of unfair trade practices, do more harm than good.

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