US should engage in dialogue with good faith: Editorial flash

The announcement that China and the United States will hold a new round of economic and trade talks in Paris from Saturday to Tuesday sends a timely signal of engagement between the world's two largest economies at a moment when global markets crave stability.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the upcoming consultations will bring senior officials from both sides together to continue discussions on bilateral trade and economic issues.

The talks are expected to pick up where the two sides left off after the outcomes of their previous consultations in Kuala Lumpur were unveiled in late October, and to prepare the ground for further high-level exchanges.

For China, the message surrounding the Paris meeting is clear and consistent. China has always advocated resolving economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, while firmly opposing the weaponization of tariffs or the politicization of normal trade relations.

In a reply to a question on the US Trade Representative's announcement of Section 301 Investigations into 16 economies — including China — on grounds of "overcapacity", a Commerce Ministry spokesperson pointed out that a World Trade Organization panel has long since ruled that tariff measures adopted pursuant to Section 301 investigations violate WTO rules.

As he rightly said the US side cannot narrowly define production capacity that exceeds domestic demand as "overcapacity" and arbitrarily label it as "excessive".

China has also taken note that the US has initiated Section 301 investigations into 60 economies — including China — on the grounds of alleged "failure to prohibit the importation of products made with forced labor". China is currently conducting an analysis and assessment of these US moves.

It will closely monitor the developments and reserves the right to take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its own legitimate rights and interests.

Despite the actions of the US side, China has repeatedly emphasized it is open to dialogue with the US and it is committed to stabilizing bilateral economic ties.

This reflects the broader principle that China has long upheld: cooperation remains the only viable choice for the two largest economies in an increasingly interconnected world. Constructive engagement not only benefits the two countries but also contributes to global economic confidence.

The important consensus reached by the two heads of state in Busan last October and their phone conversations since January last year provide important guidance for both nations to address shared economic interests through dialogue and set a positive tone for the forthcoming Paris talks.

Against this backdrop, the mid-March consultations are widely seen as important preparatory work for further high-level interaction. Issues expected to be discussed range from trade imbalances and agricultural commerce to aviation cooperation, investment flows and technology-related concerns.

While differences inevitably exist, both sides have enough reasons to prevent frictions from escalating.

For the Paris talks to yield meaningful progress, it is important that both sides approach the discussions in good faith and avoid creating new obstacles. Trade probes or unilateral measures should not become bargaining chips in negotiations.

China urges the US side to correct its erroneous practices and return to the proper path of resolving issues through dialogue and consultation as there are no winners in tariff or trade wars.

Maintaining the continuity and momentum of China-US economic and trade consultations serves the common interests of both countries. More broadly, it aligns with the expectations of the international community, which hopes to see the two major economies manage their differences through communication rather than confrontation.

If the Paris consultations succeed in reinforcing this trajectory, they will help steady bilateral relations and contribute to a more stable global economic environment.