China-US Trade Talks 'to Resume This Month'

China and the United States will reportedly resume high-level trade talks this month.

Senior officials from the world's two largest economies will review the implementation of their Phase 1 trade deal and likely air mutual grievances in an increasingly tense relationship during an August 15 videoconference, two people familiar with the plans said.

Vice Premier Liu He and American Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the principal negotiators for the two countries, will participate in the meeting, an initial six-month review of the pact activated on February 15.

The meeting plans were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The US Trade Representative's office and the US Treasury did not respond to requests for comment.

Under the Phase 1 trade deal signed in January, China had pledged to boost purchases of American goods by some US$200 billion over 2017 levels, including agricultural and manufactured products, energy and services.

But China, battered by the global coronavirus recession, is far behind the pace needed to meet its first-year goal of a US$77 billion increase. Imports of farm goods have been lower than the 2017 level, far behind the 50 percent increase needed to meet the 2020 target of US$36.5 billion.

Beijing has bought only 5 percent of the energy products needed to meet the Phase 1 first year goal of US$25.3 billion.

One of the people familiar with the plans said Chinese officials hoped to discuss other issues beyond the Phase 1 trade deal implementation.

"It's both the normal semi-annual review and also comes at a time when the relationship continues to deteriorate. Naturally there is much to discuss," the person said.

China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, said on Tuesday that there was always a plan for high-level consultations six months into the pact, but the two sides have remained in regular contact over the trade deal.

"If they do have such a meeting I guess it will be very positive," Cui told a virtual event sponsored by the Aspen Security Forum.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to end the trade pact over China's handling of the coronavirus, which originated in the city of Wuhan, and tensions have risen over US sanctions related to China's security crackdown on Hong Kong.

The latest irritant between the world's two largest economies is Trump's threat to ban US use of the Chinese-owned video app TikTok unless it is sold to a non-Chinese buyer.

White House officials on Tuesday could not say how Trump's suggestion that the US Treasury get a significant portion of the proceeds of the sale – potentially to Microsoft – could be implemented. (Reuters)