Source:
https://scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3020455/us-china-trade-talks-collapse-was-not-normal-says-veteran-us
Economy/ China Economy

US-China trade talks collapse was ‘not normal’, says veteran US negotiator, as focus turns political

  • Face-to-face talks are set to resume in Shanghai on Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since May
  • Veteran US trade negotiator Claire Reade warns economics are now ‘not the driver’ of talks as Washington political consensus against China grows
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He met with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (centre) and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington in May. Photo: EPA

The dramatic collapse in US-China talks in May suggested that Chinese negotiators did not have full political backing for the concessions they proposed to reach a deal to end the trade war, according to a veteran US trade official ahead of the resumption of face-to-face negotiations this week in Shanghai.

China was reported to have made last minute, large-scale edits to a near-150 page trade agreement draft, which scuppered the prospects for a deal after 11 rounds of negotiations.