The sustained and rapid growth in China-US trade is fundamentally attributed to the highly complementary nature of the two economics, which will continue to exist for a long time and is likely to be standing out in the process of economic globalization.

There will be five hot issues likely to affect the Sino-US trade prospects when we take both domestic and international situations into consideration, a recent article by Wang Li with the Ministry of Commerce and Zhang Luqing with the University of International Business and Economics pointed out.

First, US restrictions on exports to China. This is a big issue affecting trade balance between the two countries. The US government should reconsider its technology transfer policy towards China, when the latter has gained wide access to hi-tech products it needs and has greatly improved its own R&D capability.

Second, the US recognition of China's market economy status. Along with China's economic rise, the "market economy status" has been reduced into a bargaining counter by American politicians and businessmen during their seek for a means to contain China.

Third, anti-dumping and anti-subsidy. The United States has taken the two methods as effective weapons against China's surging exports that must be made full use of.

Fourth, US trade deficit against China. The two countries have different understanding on the unbalanced bilateral trade. The United States, based on its statistics at least 30 percent exaggerated, believes that China contributes quite a part to its foreign trade deficit. For that reason, the US side has continuously set barriers against China, which have caused many trade frictions.

Fourth, IPR protection. In 1994, the United States, accusing China of being weak in protecting IPR and controlling violations in this regard, listed China as a "key country" in its Article 301.

There would have no major changes in Washing's China policy during President Bush's second term, the two authors predicted. However, the China-US trade will sure keep marching forward as long as the two countries, out of strategic and long-term considerations, could handle these key problems in a proper manner.

By People's Daily Online