A guide to the US-China trade talks: can the two squabbling powerhouses defuse the tension?
While few people expect the two-day Beijing sit-down between delegations from China and the US to end the trade dispute, it could help avert an all-out trade war
China and the US on Thursday and Friday are to hold high-level and highly anticipated trade talks in Beijing aimed at defusing months of trade tension amid the biggest confrontation in decades between the world’s two largest economies.
While few people expect the two-day sit-down between the two economic powerhouses to produce a breakthrough deal that would end the ongoing trade tiff, the parley nevertheless could help avert an all-out trade war, according to analysts.
But the sides’ differing descriptions of the upcoming discussions suggest they have their work cut out for them.
Liu He, China’s vice-premier in charge of economic issues and the leader of the Chinese delegation, is to “exchange views” on bilateral trade and economic issues with the US delegation led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to an official Beijing statement.
Mnuchin, who will lead a team of US President Trump’s top economic advisers, has said the American officials will be “looking to have a very frank discussion” with China “on trade, on the issues of the trade imbalance”.