The world is not totally dark and the forces of free trade and globalization remain strong. China stands firm and holds the banner of free trade high.

Too often, analysis of China underestimates how aware China’s leaders are of the challenges they face and fails to place announcements in the right context. Li’s NPC work report is another sign that the leadership is indeed well-aware and is giving itself the space to tackle these challenges and to steadily make progress on the substance of reform.

The Section 232 measure is a highly unconventional and controversial one to restrain imports on the basis of their detrimental impact on U.S. national security. Worse, its employment against foreign trade partners, including China, is likely to be the first volley in an increasingly torrid summer of lethal trade pyrotechnics. The worst is yet to come.

Companies around the world are already racing to develop the necessary 5G network technology, leading to new technological tensions between the U.S. and China. Given the continued demand for high-speed wireless connectivity and mobile devices, there’s a lot at stake for the companies that get 5G technology right and ultimately end up driving its deployment.

Trump’s trade belligerence is damaging the house America built.

Are trade wars easy to win and is Trump both willing and capable of escalating the conflict with Beijing to an all-out trade war, hoping that China will sooner or later capitulate?

China has overcome the predictions of economic doomsayers.

How China and the US avoid a tit for tat exchange and explore a new basis of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation through negotiations is particularly urgent.

Reportedly, the administration is considering imposing tariffs on over 100 Chinese products and adding additional restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States.

Trump is shooting himself in the foot.