The US-China trade war talks are back on but no high hopes for Xi-Trump deal at G20
- Top Chinese and American negotiators expected to return to discussions in Osaka before bilateral summit
- Observers say the best-case scenario is an agreement to halt further escalation of the conflict
Top Chinese and American trade negotiators have agreed to resume talks over their escalating trade feud, just days before high-stakes talks between the two countries’ presidents at the Group of 20 summit in Japan.
The commitment was made in a phone call on Monday between Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He, President Xi Jinping’s point man for trade talks, and his US counterparts, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
It came as both sides sought to dampen expectations of a quick resolution to their spiralling tariff war.
There were few details about the call but China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was at the US’ request and involved an “exchange of opinions on economic and trade issues”.
Just a week earlier, Xi and US President Donald Trump agreed to meet on the sidelines of the G20 in Osaka and restart negotiations that had been suspended since early May.
Analysts said they expected Liu, Lighthizer and Mnuchin to meet in Osaka in the next few days to pave the way for the Xi-Trump meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, the second day of the summit, according to a US official.