US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday he would visit Beijing “at some point in the near future” to continue trade talks with his Chinese counterparts. 

Mnuchin did not elaborate on the exact timeframe but told US lawmakers the latest trade discussions were “constructive,” and talks are continuing. Several hours later, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said, " China is not aware of the United States’ trip plan." 

It has been almost a week since the 11th round of China-US trade talks concluded. Over the past few days, the situation has changed dramatically for both sides.

After the 11th round talk ended, Chinese officials reiterated their position, and refuted backtracking accusations from the US. China made it clear that if some continue to ignore the principles of equality and mutual benefits and feel lucky enough to attempt to manipulate others with maximum pressure, then the only path for China is to push back. 

It’s obvious that the US side is faced with a dilemma. The Trump administration is still threatening to impose additional tariffs. Meanwhile, US industries and capital markets have reacted strongly to Trump’s strategy of maximum pressure. 

A number of industry associations such as the National Retail Federation, Consumer Technology Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, and American Soybean Association issued statements on Monday, opposing the US government’s announcement that it intends to impose more tariffs on Chinese exports to the US worth about $300 billion. And they urged the US to return to the normal track as soon as possible.

It seems the US lacks sincerity when it comes to normalizing China-US trade relations. On Wednesday, the US Department of Commerce added Huawei and its 70 subsidiaries to its so-called Entity Lists, barring US companies from using its telecommunications equipment.

It "is an abuse of national security and unilateral trade sanctions," Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng said in a media conference. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang urged the US to stop its improper practices and avoid causing more damage to bilateral economic and trade ties.

Now the entire world can see where both sides have drawn the line. The US side apparently miscalculates the situation and underestimates the determination of China to defend its core national interests. Trade war damages both sides, but China will continue to firmly safeguard the fundamental interests of the country and never compromise on issues of principle. Only on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits can the China-US trade issues be solved along the right track.