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China Vice-Premier Liu He rejects Trump’s suggestion of immediate phase two talks, calling idea ‘unwise’
- Vice-Premier Liu He has told Chinese media it would be foolish to chase a phase two trade deal with the United States when the ink on phase one is not yet dry
- Liu’s comments diverged from those of US President Donald Trump, who has said the next stage of trade negotiations would start soon
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Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He has said Beijing has little interest in immediately starting negotiations on phase two of a trade deal with the United States, in a polite rejection of US President Donald Trump’s suggestion the next stage of talks would start soon.
If China and the US hurry ahead with phase two talks after only just signing a phase one deal, the two countries would be acting like “a bear losing itself in a corn field”, said Liu, referring to a Chinese proverb.
“We might get nothing if we rush to a second job before the first one is properly done. I don’t think it is a wise choice to impatiently launch new stages of talks,” the vice-premier told Chinese media in Washington after signing the partial trade agreement with Trump, Caixin magazine reported.
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Liu’s comments sharply diverged from those of the US president, who just a few hours earlier said that the two countries would be “starting phase two as soon as [phase one] kicks in.”
We might get nothing if we rush to a second job before the first one is properly done. I don’t think it is a wise choice to impatiently launch new stages of talks
After months of negotiations and escalating tariffs, the two sides agreed to put the brakes on an 18-month trade war that has disrupted global supply chains and shaken markets.
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