Right attitude required for positive results from talks

In a move that offers a faint ray of hope that they will be able to resolve their trade differences, China and the United States are to hold a fresh round of trade talks - although at a lower level than previous rounds.

To those for whom the glass is always half full, extending an invitation to China is a sign that the Donald Trump administration might be softening its stance and genuinely seeking an end to the dispute.

Whether that is the case, or the discussions prove a damp squib as the more pessimistic predict, depends on how sincere Washington is in seeking shared ground.