End unpredictability

Leaders of US and China must step back from trade brink

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Over the weekend, trade negotiators from the United States (US) and the People's Republic of China said they had come to an agreement on a range of outstanding issues between the two nations, and were ready to present the outcome of their talks to Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. This is the product of a week of hectic diplomacy surrounding the American President's visit to Asia for the gathering in Malaysia of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asian Summit in South Korea. The American and Chinese leaders are due to meet during the latter event, and it is to be hoped that the talks will be constructive and they will be able to utilise this hard-won breakthrough. Actions by both countries have been extremely disruptive for normal trading partnerships throughout the world, and some degree of normalcy and predictability must be restored to their relations.