The US-China trade conflict is putting economic integration and cooperation at risk not only between the two countries but in the wider Asia-Pacific region, an expert said at a university forum. "Because of the anti-trade and anti-globalization stream in American politics, I don't see a solution in the near term. Huang defined trade and investment between China and the US as "stabilizing pillars". While the professor recognized that problems exist between the two countries, Huang said tariffs that undermine those pillars are not the answer. The two countries had conducted trade negotiations in June and August with those issues on the agenda, but no substantial agreements were reached.