‘Still chance of a breakthrough’ in China-US trade war even if Donald Trump holds off on talks with Xi Jinping
- Chinese and American officials meeting in Beijing next week might be able to hammer out an agreement in principle to stave off tariff rises, observers say
- That’s despite Trump saying he is unlikely to meet Xi before a deal deadline
China and the United States still might make a breakthrough when mid-level officials meet for trade talks next week in Beijing even if a presidential summit does not take place before a crucial March 1 deadline, according to Chinese government advisers.
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were expected to meet at the end of this month around the same time as Trump’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam.
That had raised hopes that a deal could be struck between the two countries before US tariffs on Chinese imports rise from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on March 1.
But Trump said on Thursday that it was “unlikely” he would meet Xi before the March deadline for a deal.
Asked if he would meet Xi this month, Trump responded “no” and shook his head, adding “unlikely”.
Earlier on Thursday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told the Fox Business television channel that there was “pretty sizable distance” between the world’s two biggest economies on reaching and agreement.
