US and Chinese officials have been holding talks for several weeks in the run up to the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires on Saturday, sources from both countries told the Wall Street Journal. However, it remains unclear whether substantial progress has been made in the discussions.
Details of what the US is demanding are also limited. Future negotiations will work to develop a trade “architecture,” said the Journal, which would address headline issues such as intellectual property protection and state-sector subsidies.
According to Chinese officials, one offer made would assure a suspension of US tariffs in return for lifting restrictions on China’s imports of US agricultural goods.
Trump added some last-minute doubt on the meeting before setting off for Argentina. He said that the two sides were “very close” to a trade deal but that “I don’t know if we want to do it. I’m open to making a deal, but frankly, I like the deal we have now.”