Bangladesh, May 8 -- As global economic turbulence deepens, the worlds attention is increasingly fixed on the upcoming meeting between Chinas Vice Premier He Lifeng and US officials in Switzerland from May 9 to 12. Initiated at the request of the United States, these discussions reflect Washingtons urgent desire to recalibrate its increasingly unsustainable trade policy toward China. However, beneath the optimism for dialogue lies a deeper strategic contest: whether the United States can abandon its outdated “tariff stick” mentality and genuinely engage China in a spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit.

The background to these talks is one of growing frustration with Washingtons misuse of tariffs as a political and e...