United States and China plan to sign “phase one” deal in early 2020, details still taking shape
The United States and China hope to sign a phase one trade deal in the first week of January. US-China Business Council (USCBC) contacts in the administration have indicated the deal will be signed at the vice premier-level in Washington, DC, and come into effect 30 days later. Administration officials have issued conflicting statements as to whether it will be President Trump and President...
Partial trade agreement expected today
The United States and China have reached an interim “Phase One” trade agreement. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), President Trump, and China’s Ministry of Commerce have confirmed the initial agreement includes improved intellectual property rights (IPR) protections, as well as commitments on technology transfer, agriculture purchases and structural reforms, financial services, and currency and foreign exchange, in...
Negotiations still ongoing, both sides navigate non-trade issues
Negotiations for a “phase one” agreement with China continue, amid posturing from President Trump on the urgency of reaching a deal by the planned December 15 tariff escalation and pressure from Congress to address human rights and democracy issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Deputies on both sides continue to engage daily. Though the principals have not engaged for more than a week, they remain hopeful for an agreement...
Deal this year on shaky ground
Progress toward an interim trade deal between the United States and China remained uncertain this week. While a few goodwill gestures were seen this week—including a grand farewell for Bei Bei, a giant panda and favorite of the DC National Zoo who returned to China as part of the panda breeding program—uncertainty continues to mount. The target closing date for an agreement has now shifted to December 15, when the next round of US tariffs are set to be...
“Phase one” deal: no breakthroughs this week, closing date still uncertain
Even though the week began with President Trump affirming he had not yet decided to roll back tariffs, and indeed would substantially raise tariffs on December 15 if a deal is not reached, negotiations continued throughout the week at the deputy-level via teleconference. Principals are expected to speak today, according to the US Department of Agriculture undersecretary for trade. US officials remain fairly...
US-China reportedly reach agreement on tariff rollback, but signing date still up in the air
This week, the United States and China continued to negotiate where and when a “phase one” deal can be signed by Presidents Trump and Xi. Officials have reiterated that the negotiating teams have been making progress on the text of the agreement and remain optimistic. A commitment to roll back tariffs will likely be included in the deal. Though it is unlikely a deal can be signed this month as...
Presidential meeting up in the air, but negotiations still on track for November deal
The negotiating teams are currently working to find a venue for a potential presidents meeting after Chile’s president cancelled the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, where presidents Trump and Xi were expected to meet and sign a phase one trade agreement on November 17. The top trade negotiators held a phone call today which the United States Trade Representative said made progress on...
Negotiations on track for November
Trade officials from both China and the United States have highlighted that negotiations are on target and substantial progress is being made toward a phase one deal that could be signed by the presidents in mid-November on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Chile. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke this morning with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He by phone and reported...
Both sides working towards Phase One deal
A week since the announcement that the United States and China agreed in principle to a “phase one” trade agreement, much remains uncertain about the scope of the deal. Both sides appear optimistic about the prospect of reaching an official partial deal in time for Presidents Trump and Xi to sign in mid-November on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC). However, negotiators have yet to reach consensus on many of the key...
Trump to meet Chief Chinese negotiator Liu He today, mini-deal may be in sight
After a week of developments that threatened to derail high-level talks, President Trump is...
