Are China and the US locked in a permanent trade war?

Washington

THE United States-China trade war goes on ... and on and on.

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet later this week in Argentina at a summit meeting of the G-20 - roughly speaking, the world's 20 most important economies. The object is to halt the war. Larry Kudlow, director of the White House's National Economic Council, suggests a breakthrough is possible, though unlikely. Many outside observers are also pessimistic.

The most upbeat among them expect a truce. Each side would delay further trade measures against the other, while officials of both countries try to reach a more permanent arrangement. "A temporary ceasefire to make time for another round of negotiations ... is a possibility," the consulting firm Capit…