It is not easy for US to mend its ways but it must give up unilateralism

THE UNITED STATES is reportedly hinting to the EU that it wants a free trade deal, possibly as a move to get more leverage in its trade frictions with China. However, this will not be easy as what the US administration has done has sowed the seeds of mistrust between both sides. Xin Zhiming comments:

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reportedly tried to woo the European Union during the meeting of financial leaders of the world's 20 largest economies over the weekend, proposing the two sides drop the trade barriers between them.

Mnuchin's proposal has been interpreted by observers as a move aimed at giving the United States more leverage in its escalating trade frictions with China.