China, US will ‘come up with something’ to defuse trade war, Hong Kong scholar predicts
- Vice-ministerial level delegation from the United States in Beijing for two days of face-to-face talks on Monday and Tuesday
- Lawrence J. Lau ‘confident’ truce agreed between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will lead to further de-escalation of tensions
Beijing and Washington are expected to reach a “concrete” trade agreement before March’s deadline to de-escalate trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, according to a Hong Kong scholar with close ties to Beijing.
Lau made the latest comments a day before China announced a vice-ministerial level delegation from the United States led by deputy US trade representative Jeffrey Gerrish would fly to Beijing for two days of face-to-face talks on Monday and Tuesday.
“There will be something concrete at the end … and if there’s a settlement, there shouldn’t be any [additional] tariffs.”
In addition to promises of buying more energy and agricultural products from the US, China may also make other commitments to soothe American concerns, Lau said.