The U.S. and China are set to begin trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Both sides will first want to make sure the other is serious about negotiating a future deal. Possible topics for discussion include lowering the current tariff rates of more than 100% and a litany of non-tariff trade barriers.

The way President Donald Trump sees it, beating China in a trade war should be easy. After all, his logic goes, the Chinese sell Americans three times as much stuff as Americans sell them. Therefore,