China trade talks will happen in two weeks, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says

Scheduled round of talks still on, after cancellation of farm visit by Chinese delegation adds uncertainty

Donald Trump appears surprised by news of the visit’s cancellation, which Mnuchin tells him was at US’ request

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US President Donald Trump (far left) looks on as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (second from right) explains the Chinese delegation’s cancelled farm visit. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:00pm, 24 Sep 2019Updated: 11:33pm, 24 Sep 2019

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would hold their scheduled round of trade negotiations with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He in two weeks’ time.

Mnuchin clarified the progress on the trade negotiations amid uncertainty following the cancellation of a planned visit to farms in the United States by Chinese officials, which appeared to surprise US President Donald Trump.

“I think it’s not next week but the following week we’ll be having those talks,” Mnuchin said in an interview with US broadcaster Fox Business Network, adding that the two countries’ negotiators had made some progress in easing their trade tensions in last week’s deputy-level meetings.

“The president’s been very clear: if we can get the right deal, he wants the deal,” Mnuchin said. “If we can’t get the right deal, he’s happy with the tariffs.”

After the countries concluded last week’s vice-ministerial trade discussions in Washington, a group of Chinese officials led by Han Jun, Vice-Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs were scheduled to visit farms in Bozeman, Montana and Omaha, Nebraska.

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