What chance to avoid a US-China trade war? Read Larry Kudlow’s lips

Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow is headed to China along with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The team of heavy-hitters is tasked with averting a trade war.

They will meet President Xi Jinping, vice-president Wang Qishan, and other Chinese officials on May 3 and 4.

So, what’s in prospect?

Take it from Mr Kudlow himself, a TV pundit who can be expected to know the value of soundbites.

Rather than an upbeat pithy take on prospects, Mr Kudlow offered this long, involved response: “We are representing the interests of the United States, and we have complaints – we’ve made no bones about that – so we wish to resolve these complaints.

“That is our hope, that we can make some progress. It’s not going to be final, it’s not going to be the end of the line. It’s a long process.”

Mr Kudlow is known for being pro-trade and he works for a president who sees business as a zero-sum game.

It should be an interesting week that will stretch long into the future. As Mr Kudlow said “a long process.”