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BEIJING, March 24-- History tells that trade wars are a losing game. No one benefits, and everyone ends up a bit bruised. Despite the risk of triggering a trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum that could result in heavy tariffs on up to 60-billion-U.S.-dollar imports from China as well as restrictions on Chinese investments. The unilateral move is a bullying tactic long played by Washington in the face of trade disputes, which uses its superior economic status to force concessions from its partners. The strategy isn't a wise one, especially in today's world where the economic and trade interests of all countries are intertwined. If a trade war breaks out, no one escapes unscathed. Some say China benefits more in its trade with the United States, and therefore China would lose more in a trade war; others argue China stands to lose little given its status as the world's second largest economy. Both arguments miss the mark for one simple reason: trade ties between the world's two largest economies are fundamentally reciprocal. Statistics from the U.S.-China Business Council show that the bilateral economic relationship supports roughly 2.6 million jobs in the United States across a range of industries, among which about 104,000 jobs were created by Chinese investment. Today, American consumers enjoy low-priced products made in China, and Chinese businesses realize profits in the United States. The relationship is win-win. | 
