RTRS: U.S. and China have significant differences ahead of trade talks Friday night pic.twitter.com/hRiV3cz7GG
— Alastair Williamson (@StockBoardAsset) November 16, 2019
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top U.S. and Chinese negotiators are seeking to narrow differences on an initial trade agreement during a Friday evening phone call, but remain split on key issues.
President Donald Trump had not yet agreed to remove any tariffs as part of a deal, and the size of China’s commitment to purchase U.S. farm products was not yet clear, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Friday in an interview on Fox Business Network.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were expected to participate in the phone call with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He which will be held on Friday evening Washington time.
China’s reluctance to commit to a specific amount of farm purchases remains a sticking point in the talks, as is U.S. reluctance to roll back tariffs, people briefed on the negotiations said. The world’s largest economies have been involved in a tit-for-tat trade war that is dragging on global growth.
only a matter of time before people figure out trump's trade deal is a hoax pic.twitter.com/oUzx31k8rd
— Alastair Williamson (@StockBoardAsset) November 15, 2019