China to feel the pressure as negotiators prepare for trade deal temperature check, Beijing adviser says

Name: US consulate in Chengdu shut down in response to closure of China’s diplomatic mission in Houston
Uploaded: 2020-08-05T12:30:07.000Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Description: US consulate in Chengdu shut down in response to closure of China’s diplomatic mission in Houston

As top negotiators prepare to discuss progress on implementation of the phase one trade deal, China is lagging on purchasing commitments

Trade viewed as the only open channel of communication between the superpowers, with China making some progress on structural issues

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China increased purchases of key US farm goods in June and early-July, but it remains far behind on its phase one deal buying commitments. Photo: Bloomberg

Finbarr BerminghamandOrange Wang

Published: 8:30pm, 5 Aug 2020Updated: 9:07am, 7 Aug 2020

The pressure is on China as negotiators from the world’s two largest economies prepare to take a “temperature check” on progress towards meeting the terms of the phase one trade deal, an adviser to Beijing has warned.

Various media reports on Wednesday confirmed talks would take place on or around August 15, roughly six months after the deal came into force in February, confirming a South China Morning Post report from July.

Trade is known to be the only active and constructive channel for dialogue between the United States and China, with wider ties deteriorating on a daily basis.

China ratcheted up purchases of key farm goods in June and early-July, although those have tailed off over the past fortnight.

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US consulate in Chengdu shut down in response to closure of China’s diplomatic mission in Houston

Overall, China still lags far behind on its commitments to purchase American goods, and given the toxic atmosphere in which the talks will take place, an adviser to the Chinese government has warned that China could face some strong-arming in next week’s talks.