A delegation from Washington led by US deputy trade representative Jeff Gerrish will start the latest round of US-China trade negotiations in Beijing on Monday. These will be the first face-to-face talks between high-level representatives since the two sides agreed to a tariff ceasefire in November.
Gerrish is joined by officials from the US agriculture department, energy department and treasury department, suggesting that this set of talks will be more targeted than previous summits such as in Buenos Aires, according to the Financial Times.
Topics on the agenda are expected to include intellectual property safeguards, Huawei, China’s Made in China 2025 initiative and auto market access, among others.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was upbeat about prospects for the talks, saying that he believes “China really want to make a deal,” in part due to the weakness of the Chinese economy.
“I think China wants to get it resolved. Their economy’s not doing well,” Trump said at the White House. “I think that gives them a great incentive to negotiate.”