No compromising principles

China and the United States held their 11th round of high-level economic and trade consultations on Thursday and Friday. In their negotiations they have made substantial headway on many issues, but there are core concerns of China that remain unaddressed.

It has called for all the additional tariffs imposed by the US on Chinese imports to be revoked, for Washington's demands for purchases of US goods to be realistic, and for any statement of agreement to be expressed in language that is balanced and respects the dignity of the country.

The China-US economic and trade consultations so far have been like a symphony, with the main theme remaining largely audible but with other seemingly clashing motifs sometimes coming to the fore.