The China-US trade imbalance spiced up with US Congressmen threatening punitive measures against Chinese goods and the US administration taking piracy complaints to the WTO may give heat, if not light, to the second session of the Sino-American Strategic Economic Dialogue opening today in Washington.

The Chinese delegation, led by Vice-Premier Wu Yi, and the US delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, are expected to discuss a range of major issues affecting China-US economic relations.

Top Chinese and US leaders attach great importance to this regular dialogue. It involves the highest ranking economic officials and covers the widest range of issues, though both sides remain cautious in expressing expectations.