The China-US Comprehensive Economic Dialogue takes place in Washington on Wednesday, the first meeting covering economic and trade issues since US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to transform the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue at their Mar-a-Lago Summit in Florida in April.

The new format high-level official dialogue indicates both sides are willing to deal with their economic and trade relations in a more pragmatic way. And it is important that Chinese and US high-level officials sit down and have a decent discussion, given the current complicated situation.

The protectionist philosophy of the White House has not shown any sign of abating. The Trump administration's intention is to use unilateral means to maximize the United States' interests, which has provoked anger from other countries, and in Hamburg earlier this month. Trump was more isolated at a G20 summit than any US president before. On first sight, Trump's protectionism would seem to be of benefit to the US, but protectionism will exhaust the systemic bonuses and advantages the US has in the middle to long run.