The Beijing Hour China, US reach consensus on multiple trade issues: ministry
Sep 28, 2026
Graham Allison, Harvard political scientist known for the Thucydides Trap, and Qu Qiang, a China-U.S. affairs researcher, examine fresh trade agreements between Beijing and Washington. They discuss tariff reductions, agricultural cooperation, investment boards and AI communication. The conversation also explores cultural exchange, panda diplomacy, industrial growth, Confucian values in a tech age, and uncertain Iran-U.S. diplomacy.
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Trade Rivalry Gets A Rule-Based Framework
- Qu Qiang says the new Trade Board could make rivalry more predictable by formalizing professional, transparent, issue-specific negotiations.
- Working groups will shrink negative lists by addressing agriculture, aviation, technology, and chips one problem at a time.
Communication Can Break The Thucydides Trap
- Graham Allison argues the Thucydides Trap is not inevitable when rival powers maintain strategic communication and manage disagreements.
- Both presidents recognize fierce competition while sharing responsibility to prevent their relationship from ending in catastrophic war.
Cultural Exchange Softens Trade Tensions
- Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump toured Asian art galleries together while broader bilateral discussions centered on trade and economics.
- The United States soon returned 64 cultural relics and fossils to China, illustrating cultural exchange alongside diplomacy.