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Wendy Wu

China and the United States are talking up progress on a trade deal as the two countries embark on another round of negotiations in Beijing to end their months-long tariff war.
The US delegation led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday for talks, to be followed by Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He’s trip to Washington next week.
“We’re looking forward to productive discussions over the next few days,” Mnuchin said.
“We hope to make substantial progress.”
US investors ‘confidently’ pouring money into China despite trade war, says commerce minister
He declined to comment on specific issues, but said “a lot of progress” had been made.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also said considerable progress had been made in the bilateral consultations.
“In accordance with the important consensus of the two heads of state, the two sides’ teams will work together to reach a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement on the basis of mutual respect,” Geng said.
Since trade talks resumed in December, Washington and Beijing say they have made gains on various issues, including intellectual property, forced technology transfer and non-tariff barriers. But an enforcement mechanism and punitive tariffs remain sticking points.




Mnuchin told Fox Business on Monday that the enforcement mechanism was “close to done”.
“So I would say that’s one of the areas we have made a lot of progress, needs a little bit of fine-tuning, but I would say we have a fundamental understanding in that area,” he said.
This week’s talks come just days ahead of the end of US waivers on Iranian oil imports to eight countries and regions, including China.
Nevertheless, the two sides are expected to reach a deal in mid-May, possibly laying the foundation for a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

Last week, Trump said he would meet Xi at the White House “soon”. The South China Morning Post had reported earlier that the meeting could be held as early as June.
A European diplomatic source said China hoped that trade tensions with the US would cease to be a major focus by autumn.
US-China trade talks are at the stage where people haggle over every word
But a trade deal did not necessarily mean a rosy outlook for US-China relations, the diplomat said.
A report from the Office of the US Trade Representative last week said China continued to engage in “unfair and harmful conduct” that damaged US intellectual property rights.

A trade specialist advising the Chinese government said Beijing was at a disadvantage in the negotiations.
“The US’ tough stance in trade issues against China has won support from American business, while China still needs foreign capital to support its economy,” he said.
But he also warned that China and the US would have further confrontation over technology and talent, even if trade tensions eased.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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US-China trade war

China and United States focus on progress before fresh round of trade war talks

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (centre) arrives at a hotel in Beijing, on Tuesday. Photo: Bloomberg

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 10, 2019 attendees wait in line for a 5G exhibition at the Qualcomm booth during CES 2019 consumer electronics show, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. - The United States and China are in a virtual deadlock in the race for 5G, or fifth-generation wireless networks expected to unlock new services, an industry survey showed April 2, 2019. The report shows the United States has closed the gap with China in "readiness" for the ultrafast wireless systems and has more 5G deployments planned in 2019 than any other country. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform in the Soroush oil fields is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Persian Gulf, Iran, July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo

‘Productive’ end to latest round of US-China trade talks

From left: US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, US Trade Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He before the start of their latest round of negotiations aimed at ending the US-China trade war. Photo: AFP

US and China will have many more battles to fight when the trade war ends

Illustration by Henry Wong

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, right, gestures as he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer pose for a group photo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. China said Thursday, April 11, 2019, that trade talks with the U.S. are "moving forward" after nine rounds of consultations aimed at ending a standoff that has shaken the world economic outlook. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), speaks during an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, April 26, 2019. Wray discussed the FBI's role in protecting the U.S. from today's global threats. Photographer: Melissa Lyttle/Bloomberg

Grindr app is seen on a mobile phone in this photo illustration taken in Shanghai, China March 28, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song/Illustration

Trade war: Donald Trump to meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He as negotiators eye presidential summit

Donald Trump is due to meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

No summit with China’s Xi Jinping until a deal to end trade war is final, Donald Trump says

US President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He in the Oval Office at the White House on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Liu He, China's vice premier and director of the central leading group of the Chinese Communist Party, waves to members of the media while arriving to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Liu will resume negotiations with his U.S. counterparts in Washington today as both governments push for an agreement to end their protracted trade dispute. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

US-China trade talks are at the stage where people haggle over every word

Former US negotiators say Chinese officials are more straightforward in their approach than the Japanese. 

Language differences often complicate diplomatic negotiations.

Chinese and US officials negotiate in their native tongues with the help of simultaneous translation during the trade talks. 

 Chinese, overall, are much more straightforward in their negotiating approach than the Japanese

China and the US debated the suitability of a single word for two hours during agriculture talks, according to an official social media account. 

News

China

Diplomacy

But even if the two countries seal a deal, further conflict is on the horizon, observers say


But even if the two countries seal a deal, further conflict is on the horizon, observers say.


US-China relations

China and United States focus on progress before fresh round of trade war talks

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}But even if the two countries seal a deal, further conflict is on the horizon, observers say

But even if the two countries seal a deal, further conflict is on the horizon, observers say