Candid conversation rather than confrontation appeared to define the latest round of China-United States economic and trade consultations in Paris — despite the latest 301 investigations the US administration has launched against multiple countries, including China.

Speaking to the media after the consultations concluded on Monday, Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, described the discussions as "in-depth, candid and constructive".

After years in which the economic relationship between China and the US has oscillated between wary engagement and open friction, the mere fact that the two sides can continue the momentum of their negotiations in the current volatile global environment is itself a modest but meaningful step forward.

What emerged from the discussions was a shared acknowledgment that stable bilateral economic relations benefit not only the two countries but the wider world.

The consultations reviewed progress made since last year's five rounds of talks and touched upon unresolved issues ranging from tariff levels to nontariff measures. Importantly, both sides agreed to work together to maintain the stability of bilateral tariff levels. For global businesses already navigating inflation, fragmented supply chains and geopolitical uncertainty, stability is a valuable commodity.

Of course, the talks also revealed the continuing friction that exists. The two new Section 301 investigations the US has launched under the pretexts of "overcapacity" and "forced labor" being a case in point. The concern is less about the investigations per se than what they say about the US approach to trade relations and the uncertainty these measures introduce into the consequential relationship. Businesses and investors on both sides of the Pacific prefer predictability. As Li stressed, China will closely monitor developments and take appropriate measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

But more importantly and intriguingly a development from the Paris talks is the possibility of the two sides establishing a working mechanism aimed at promoting trade and investment cooperation.

For years, while Washington has viewed the relationship through a competitive lens, Beijing has argued that it should rest on the principles of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation. The idea of creating a dedicated mechanism to facilitate cooperation in trade and investment suggests that at least some policymakers in Washington have started recognizing that competition alone is infeasible.

It is telling that this mooted pro-cooperation mechanism surfaced alongside the existing consultation framework. If realized, it could complement the negotiation process by focusing on pragmatic collaboration — trade flows, investment facilitation, and regulatory dialogue — rather than managing disagreements.

China's principled posture has been consistent: It is open to negotiations conducted on an equal footing and with mutual respect. At the same time, it insists that openness should not be mistaken for acquiescence.

The US side should refrain from taking any further actions that could disrupt or undermine a stable China-US economic relationship. Actions that inject uncertainty — whether tariffs, restrictive measures or unilateral investigations — do just that.

This is not merely a bilateral matter. The scale of the China-US economic relationship means its ripple effects extend across supply chains worldwide.

Seen through this lens, the Paris talks represent valuable continuity. They carry forward the momentum established during last year's consultations while reinforcing several key themes: dialogue over confrontation, stability over escalation and cooperation wherever possible.

Preliminary consensus has been reached on some issues, and both sides agreed to continue consultations. That process matters. But the tests of it will come in the time ahead.

The challenge now is the US recognizing that the best deals are rarely built on "clever tactics" or coercive leverage. Instead, they are built on candid communication, predictable behavior, a willingness to recognize mutual interests and ensuring that words are matched by deeds.