美国要摆“鸿门宴”，但吓唬不住中国

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China won’t flinch in face of tough-talking US

The US will raise tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports effective Friday, according to a notice posted to the Federal Register.

美国《联邦公报》于北京时间8日晚上刊登一份公告称，从星期五开始，美国将把2000亿美元中国输美商品的关税从10%提高到25%。

The announcement was made at 8:45 pm on May 8 (Beijing time). At 11:23 pm, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that China will have to take necessary countermeasures if the US goes ahead with its plan to increase tariffs on Chinese imports. Although China's announcement was made in a calm and peaceful manner, it has shown the country's unswerving resolution to defend its own interests.

我们注意到，美方的这一公告刊登时间是北京时间8日20点45分，仅两个多小时后的23点23分，中国商务部的谈话就正式发出，指出如果美方关税措施付诸实施，中方将不得不采取必要反制措施。中方的措辞虽然平和，但针锋相对的坚决态度是非常明确的。

Washington has lit the fuse on escalating China-US trade tensions. Beijing had announced it would send a delegation for the May 9 consultations before Washington’s May 8 announcement. At this critical time, Washington’s imprudent move is clearly an extreme means of sending an alarming message to China. Washington must have expected the Chinese delegation would rush to the US and seize every opportunity to reverse the situation. Instead, the Chinese delegation decided to fly to the US one day later than originally planned. This is the way Chinese express their will and determination.

美方已经点燃了贸易战进一步升级的导火索。而它的这一冒险行动是在北京已经宣布中方代表团将在9日赴美磋商的情况下做出的。华盛顿在手段匮乏时就搞这种极限发作，它希望会产生震慑效果。华盛顿一定以为中方代表团会急急忙忙赶赴美国解释，抓紧每一分钟扭转局势。但中方代表团反而比原计划推迟一天前往美国。这就是中国人表达意志的方式。

The 11th round of China-US trade talks in Washington on May 9 looks like a “Banquet at Hongmen.” On the one hand, Washington is lighting a fuse on escalating trade tensions; and on the other they still want to continue negotiating with the Chinese delegation. By doing so, they have set a new precedent in the history of trade talks.

中美星期四将在华盛顿举行的第十一轮“最后谈判”看上去很像是一场“鸿门宴”了。一边是嘶嘶作响燃烧着的导火索，一边与中方继续谈判，这种场景真可谓开了贸易谈判史上从未有过的先河。

Many people may ask: Under such circumstances, why is Beijing still sending the delegation to Washington? In fact, it’s really Washington that should be answering the question: Under such circumstances, why is the Chinese delegation invited to Washington for more trade talks?

很多人都会问：都这样了，中国代表团还去美国干什么？其实这个问题也可以同样提给华盛顿，甚至更适合提给它：都这样了，干嘛还要邀请中国代表团来？

The answer is simple. Both China and the US want to finalize a trade deal. Obviously, there are some issues that are difficult to overcome for both sides. It seems that both are now mentally prepared for a transition from truce talks to the mode of “fighting and talking” at the same time.

回答很简单：中国仍想达成协议，美国同样也很想达成。但是双方直到此时就是迈不过最后的分歧。看来中美都做好了从所谓“休战谈判”转入“边打边谈”状态的思想准备。

It is a great pity that after meeting halfway on most of their differences, China and the US have not been able to reach consensus on the last few core issues. Those issues are not supposed to come up as they specifically reflect the unreasonable demands by the US. Their emergence is rooted in the misguided perception that the US is privileged by its strength. That misconception has also motivated the latest unexpected tariff rise announced by Washington.

非常可惜的是，中美没有能够在解决了绝大部分分歧后就最后的几个核心问题达成共识。那几个问题原本应该避免，因为它们集中反映了美国对己方特权的非正当要求，而它们的出现是基于美方对其实力就应当自带特权的错误认识。美方这两天突然单方面宣布升级关税战，其实是基于同一种思维。

China has turned down the US demands at the final stage of negotiation. It was not only encouraged by its strength, but also motivated by its belief in the principle of equality. China is not afraid of conflict with the US at the last moment. In the face of the “big stick” of the US tariff threats, China has once again demonstrated its confidence in coping with an escalated trade war.

中方不接受美方最后的几个要求，不仅依靠自己的实力，而且出于对平等原则的信仰。我们不怕与美方在最后的关头碰撞。在美方再举关税大棒时，中方再次展示了对迎接贸易战升级的自信。

Since neither side has given up on the idea of making a deal, and it is the ultimate goal of both countries, the latest round of China-US trade talks is expected to be conducted in a climate of uncertainty, including that of a looming escalated trade war. Such a scenario has rarely been seen in the history of trade talks.

既然双方都没有放弃达成协议的愿望，而且不论怎么做，达成协议是中美各自的终极目标，那么就让新的中美贸易磋商在导火索的燃烧中，并且有可能在升级版贸易战的隆隆炮声中继续吧。这是贸易谈判史上罕见的一幕。

Will the US hit the brakes on the trade war at the last minute? Chinese want to know the answer to that question, but Americans are more concerned. Washington has found itself caught in a dilemma between its ambition to gain the upper hand in trade over China and its desire to minimize any negative impacts on its stock market. Beijing is serious about both trade talks and trade wars. Now, it is fully ready to switch to the mode of “fighting and talking.”

美国会在最后关头拔掉导火索吗？猜这个可能性的不仅有中国人，更多是美国人。看看美方既要压中国，又想安抚国内股市的样子吧。中国政府做事情是严肃的，事到如今，中方已经对中美谈判与关税战升级并行，进入边打边谈、打打谈谈的状态做好充分准备。

China is well prepared for an escalation in trade tensions. A variety of plans are in place, such as countermeasures for any tariff rise, and favorable policies to minimize losses for Chinese enterprises. Mentally and materially, China is much better prepared than its US counterpart.

实际上，为迎接贸易战升级中方已经做了各种准备。从还击美国的征税到开展各种措施，以期减少中方企业的损失、帮助它们渡过难关，都做了大量预案，可以说中方的相关准备，无论是物质上的还是心理上的，都比美方的准备更加充分。

In the face of the imminent, unique “Banquet at Hongmen,” Chinese have full confidence in their delegation. Members of the Chinese delegation not only have the experience and wisdom to cope with the situation, but they also have the firm support and trust of the entire Chinese society. 

对即将到来、别开生面的“鸿门宴”，我们相信中国代表团完全能够应对。除了这个团队自身的丰富经验和智慧，更重要的是他们身后有中国全社会的坚定支持和信任。

Undoubtedly, the delegation will bring both the strong will and goodwill of the Chinese government and people to Washington at this critical juncture.

他们一定能够把中国政府和人民的坚强意志和善意同时在这个特殊时刻带到华盛顿去。

If there is a new round of tariff conflicts, it would be a repeat, or an enhanced version of what happened in the past. It would definitely incur losses for China and the US, losses that are both direct and indirect, explicit and implicit. Anyway, the total scale of losses on both sides would be roughly the same. If Washington has its mind set on going back down the path of a trade war, then China will fight it to the end. China has always had a firm stand on a trade war: China does not want it; China is not afraid of it; China will launch it when necessary.

一旦新的关税冲突正式打响，那将是一个熟悉的套路，只不过将被进一步强化。损失一定是中美双方的，它们包括直接的和间接的、直观的和隐蔽的，加在一起双方的损失总规模一定大体相当。美方如果一定要再走一遍这个过程，中方唯有奉陪到底。对贸易战不愿打、不怕打、必要时不得不打，中国的这一态度什么时候都不会变。

Seeking fairness and justice on the global stage sometimes requires a huge price. It also can be costly for different parties to reach consensus. In the past year, China and the US have been locked in a trade war and have had 10 rounds of trade talks. However, the two sides have failed to meet each other halfway to make a deal. Many are wondering how much it will cost the two countries before a final agreement is made. If the latest round of talks in Washington fails to solve the puzzle, then the two countries will have to keep searching for the answer in the future.

在国际上寻求公平与正义有时需要付出巨大的代价，形成共识有时也会很昂贵，中美贸易战已经持续了一年多，高级别贸易磋商有过了十轮，但是双方经贸协议始终未能瓜熟蒂落。为了那一最终成果的到来，双方还需付出多少代价呢？如果本周没有答案，那么双方就去未来继续寻找它吧。

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