ZCZC
BCN-26
CHINA-US-TRADE-LEAD
US trade negotiators to visit China on March 28-29: Beijing
BEIJING, March 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – US Trade Representative Robert
Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will visit China on March
28-29 for a fresh round of talks aimed at resolving the bruising trade war,
the Chinese commerce ministry said Thursday.
After their visit, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will head to the United
States in April to continue the negotiations, ministry spokesman Gao Feng
said at a press briefing.
Washington and Beijing are battling over the final shape of a trade deal,
with American officials demanding profound changes to Chinese industrial
policy.
President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that US tariffs on Chinese imports
could remain in place for a “substantial period,” dampening hopes that an
agreement would see them lifted soon.
Over the last eight months, the United States and China have slapped
tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way goods trade, weighing on the
manufacturing sectors in both countries.
On Friday, China’s rubber-stamp parliament approved a foreign investment
law to strengthen protections for intellectual property — a central US
grievance — but critics said the bill was rammed through without sufficient
time for input from businesses.
BSS/AFP/HR/1440