China Enters Negotiations: The US Asks for Concessions, While Beijing Demands a "Bow"

Just when it seems that global trade has finally gone into a tailspin, the good old "talks about talks" appear on the horizon. China has declared its readiness to return to the table with the US—but only if the Americans remember ancient Eastern wisdom: "Give in order to receive." Beijing is not about to bow for free and expects concessions from Washington. These could range from tariff relief to more subtle matters: from partial lifting of sanctions to the cancellation of hostile tweets.

The US, in turn, is less concerned about exports than about saving face—after all, making concessions to China on the eve of elections looks like admitting: "The world is more complicated than it seemed on TikTok." However, in light of a slowing economy and rising prices, even the proudest politician sooner or later reaches for a calculator and starts to count: how much does principle cost?

Diplomats on both sides have already begun the familiar game of "who blinks first." Beijing is putting forward its conditions, reminding the Americans that negotiations are not just about trade, but also about geopolitics, technology, and, of course, the right of first night in the microchip market. Washington, meanwhile, is searching for a formula to "give in without humiliation," so as not to give domestic opponents a reason to cry surrender.

For now, global markets are watching this dance with bated breath: if the leaders of the two economies reach an agreement, it will be a prize not only for them, but for everyone tired of endless "trade wars" and who would like to work not only on sanctions, but also on their paycheck.