US-China trade talks to resume next week, eyeing to clinch ‘phase one’ deal during November forum
- US’ Treasury secretary and trade representative plan to have a call with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He next week, followed by further face-to-face meetings
- The aim is to prepare for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to sign an agreement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile next month
High-level trade talks between China and the US will resume next week as the two sides aim to finalise a “phase one” agreement during an upcoming regional leaders forum next month, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday.
Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer plan to have a phone call with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He next week, following deputy-level calls this week and then further face-to-face meetings on that level.
The meetings are meant to prepare for US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to sign an agreement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile next month.
“The next phase is there is deputy level calls that will be going on this week,” Mnuchin said in an interview on CNBC. “Ambassador Lighthizer and myself will have a principal level call next week with the vice-premier.”
“My expectation is we’ll have the deputies meet between now and Chile, and my expectations are that we will be meeting with the-vice premier in Chile before the presidents meet to finish the deal,” he added.