Trade talks between the US and China have hit a snag over farm purchases, as officials seek to lock down the limited trade deal President Trump outlined last month, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Trump has said that China has agreed to buy up to $50 billion of soybeans, pork and other agricultural products from the US annually. But China is wary of putting a numerical commitment in the text of an agreement, according to WSJ sources.
Beijing wants to avoid cutting a deal that looks more favorable to the US than to China, sources said, and also wants to have flexibility within the agreement should trade tensions escalate again. “We can always stop the purchases if things get worse again,” said one Chinese official.
The dispute over farm purchases is one of several issues that have delayed completion of the limited trade accord announced by Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Oct. 11. Both sides are also at odds over whether—and by how much—the U.S would agree to lift tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing’s core demand that is linked to its offers on other issues.
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