Dialogue and cooperation only way to end trade war

The China-US trade talks are to be resumed; tariff exemptions have been announced; and both administrations are working to ease the trade tensions. These positive developments would seem to suggest that China and the United States are seeking to prevent bilateral relations from deteriorating further and trying to create a positive atmosphere for their upcoming trade talks.

The US has announced the exemption, albeit temporarily, of more than 400 types of Chinese products from the tariffs that it imposed last year, while China has said it will exempt some agricultural products, including pork and soybeans, from additional tariffs. Both of these are major US agricultural exports to China.

The exemptions may not signal any major policy shift by the US, but with the two sides' agreement to resume their trade and economic consultations next month, they suggest Washington wants to end the current deadlock.