Sino-US Trade Talks Begin In Washington

Top US and Chinese trade officials returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday, working to avoid a sharp escalation in the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Vice-Premier Liu He is leading Beijing's delegation to the talks, with just a month remaining in a 90-day truce declared in December.

Should the talks fail, US import duties on US$200 billion in Chinese imports are due to more than double on March 2, something economists say could help knock the wind out of global economy's sails.

The world's two largest economies are battling for nothing less than future dominance in critical high-tech industries, according to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the lead US negotiator.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he favors a healthy Chinese economy but not at the expense of American business and know-how.

In specific, US officials are attacking Chinese trade practices they say are unfair, spotlighting the forced transfer of American technology through requirements that foreign companies form joint ventures with local firms, as well as the alleged theft of American intellectual property through hacking.

Given the complexity of issues, a finished agreement is unlikely to emerge from the two days of talks in Washington this week. (AFP)