Trade war: deal signing still uncertain with US missing from Xi Jinping’s itinerary

Chinese president will visit Greece and Brazil next week but there is no sign of a stop to meet Donald Trump to ink a ‘phase one’ agreement

Trump had suggested meeting in the United States after Chile cancelled the Apec summit, at which the pair had initially planned to meet

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China’s President Xi Jinping will begin a trip to Greece and Brazil on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:59pm, 7 Nov 2019Updated: 10:45pm, 7 Nov 2019

A visit to the United States is not part of the itinerary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s forthcoming trip abroad, Beijing has revealed, casting doubt on whether the two nations could sign an interim trade deal next week.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Xi’s trip, from November 10 to 15, would include a state visit to Greece and an emerging markets summit in Brazil.

The statement did not mention the US, nor whether any meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump was being arranged during the trip.

The announcement came amid rising speculation over when and where Xi could meet Trump to sign a partial trade deal – based on progress made during negotiations last month.

An initial plan for the two presidents to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile on November 16 and 17 had t be abandoned when the Chilean government cancelled the forum because of social unrest.

Trump and other US officials have since suggested that a meeting could be held in Iowa, Hawaii or Alaska.