US-China trade talks: Steven Mnuchin positive after ‘productive meetings’
- WeChat account linked to Chinese state media says teams worked late into night and shared ‘good atmosphere’ also cited by White House’s Larry Kudlow
- But the countries were far apart on major US requests as they continued to seek an agreement, sources said
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sounded a positive note as he wrapped up two days of trade talks between China and the US on Friday before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Productive meetings with China’s Vice-Premier Liu He and @USTradeRep Amb. Lighthizer,” Mnuchin said in a tweet.
The two sides are scrambling for an agreement despite remaining far apart on key structural issues, as US President Donald Trump considers pushing back the March 1 end of their 90-day tariffs truce.
The WeChat public account Taoran Notes said in a report on Friday that although there was limited information coming out of the closed-door talks, negotiations had been extended until late at night. Taoran is the account of a senior member of editorial staff at the state-run Economic Daily, and the article was republished by state broadcaster CCTV and the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece People’s Daily.
“There was laughter coming out of the venue,” the report said. “Not only is there a good atmosphere, but the working groups from both sides reportedly worked late, exchanging views all night. There must be things to discuss to keep discussions going so late.”
After tough negotiations that began on Monday in the Chinese capital, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mnuchin will next meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday in a move White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow described as a “very good sign”.