China's top trade negotiator will lead an upcoming 13th round of talks aimed at resolving a trade war with the United States, a senior Chinese official said Sunday.

Washington and Beijing can reach a deal, but only if both sides take a more realistic negotiating position.

The much-delayed resumption of trade talks between China and the United States, which was supposed to have begun after Oct. 15, has now been definitely set for Oct. 10 to 11 in Washington, D.C.

THE trade conflict between the United States and China may be benefiting the Philippines in the short run, but the country, as with fellow Southeast Asian countries, is bound to take a stronger hit from an overall slowdown in export demand if the tariff war is protracted.

China will support purchases of more US farm products, including soybeans and pork, by offering exemptions from additional tariffs as a goodwill gesture ahead of high-level trade talks set to take place in Washington at the start of next month, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

While protectionism is on the rise among some nations, most countries should “do what is right” rather than succumb to external forces, a professor from a top Beijing university said.

The world's two largest economies have been locked in a bruising trade war since Trump in March last year imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on $250 billion of Chinese goods

The US moved on Friday to lift tariffs on 437 Chinese goods ranging from pool vacuum cleaners to electric skateboards.

China and the United States are taking steps to de-escalate the trade war. It has raised hopes for a breakthrough at the scheduled talks next month. While there could be an agreement to ease some of the tit-for-tat punitive measures, a complete solution is unlikely.

Vietnam is finding it’s hard to win a trade war even when businesses are trying to hand you victories.