Unraveling the China-U.S. Talks in Geneva: A Protracted Dance
U.S.-China trade negotiations kick off, with President Trump asserting significant advancements on the inaugural day.
Get the skinny on the trade negotiations brewing in Geneva between the states! I'm brining in James McGregor, dwelling in our studio. He resided in China for 30 years and is the big kahuna at APCO Worldwide's Greater China region, a global consultancy powerhouse. Morning, mate, and welcome aboard!
So, shed some light on the stakes encircling the global economy in these discussions.
Well, y'know, whenever you gaze upon the strain between these countries, it's akin to a trade embargo. Tariffs are rocketing high, and both nations rule the roost worldwide – but how they free themselves from this quagmire is the question at hand. Ya see, the U.S. has confronted China with threats, nudging them to lower tariffs; but China ain't no sissy, and they'll outlast the U.S. If the Oval Office was aware, they'd know this and that's why they're talking now, to diffuse the situation.
Now, what's China's game in these confabs?
I reckon they're feelin' Trump out, wanting to learn his grand scheme. But I don't foresee 'em makin' major moves; just a wee bit of de-escalation in tariffs to carry on the chats. The quandary is, how big a deal can actually come from this affair? In case ya remember, during the first Trump presidency, they struck a Phase 1 trade pact. The prez hankered after gigantic numbers, so props were built up for all the stuff China would buy; however, they didn’t fulfill it, but pockets were lined with hopes of transformin' the systems.
So, precisely what sort of strain is China experiencing, and how long can they hold their ground?
There are countless small manufacturers on the skids, 'cause they're shuttered from doin' business with the U.S. Nonetheless, regular folks don't seem heated because they've witnessed the administration's tactics. They threat big, then back off – and they sense they're under attack. Plus, the vice president talked trash bagging China, callin' them "peasants" in one of his speeches. Not wise, mate, considering China's advanced tech, scientific capabilities, and sophisticated nature. People there are united and well-versed in the history of western humiliation, so let's not provoke 'em, eh?
Fancy any inkling of the duration of these discussions? Could we see an agreement or framework in the next couple of weeks?
Nope.
No, darlin'. And I'm tellin' ya pull no punches.
No. How about that for definite?
These talks might drag on for a long, long time.
Alrighty. You didn't pull any punches there either!
So what's likely to surface from this, or do ya have any sense of it?
They're eager to salve face, mate. Perhaps the administration would like the audience to perceive a small triumph, claimin' we've reached a truce and movin' in the right direction. But forging a genuine deal requires time – time to adopt gigantic alterations. Ya understand, we're tryin' to square off two unique systems, and that's a dilemma global economies face. China's system is unlike any other, and it can be quite predatory due to subsidies and the way the country operates, so figurin' that one out bears significance.
Thanks a bunch for sharin' your thoughts, James.
My pleasure, mate.
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[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-USA-CHINA-TRADE-idUSKBN1TO23X
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/03/reuters-exclusive-us-officials-reach-deal-to-suspend-part-of-chinas-tariffs-on-u-s- imports.html
- The US-China talks in Geneva involve more than just trade negotiations; they are also a significant dance in the realm of policy and legislation, as well as politics.
- War and conflicts, particularly in the realm of geopolitics, have eased somewhat due to these discussions, as both nations understand the global economic stakes are high and violence would not benefit either side.
- The general news also follows these talks closely, as the outcome could have major impacts on the economy and the international relations of both countries, as well as the world economy at large.
