Sincerity is the best way to make talks worthwhile

Senior Chinese and US officials are talking in Beijing to try and defuse the tensions that have been threatening to drag the world's two largest economies into a trade war. Which shows how little either side would welcome that scenario.

Although it is natural that Beijing and Washington should have differences on trade, that they have been squaring up ready to exchange blows shows how niggly those differences have become. And how difficult it will be for the two sides to walk away happy.

But that is not to say such an outcome is impossible. Trade by its very nature is not a case of winner takes all. Acceptable agreements can be reached if both sides have realistic expectations of their give and take.