BEIJING — China’s economy czar is heading to Washington for talks Thursday and Friday aimed at ending a fight over Beijing’s technology ambitions ahead of a deadline for a massive U.S. tariff hike. The announcement Tuesday, carried by the official Xinhua News Agency, follows talks last week in Beijing that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said “made headway” on key issues. They say Beijing’s goal is to persuade President Donald Trump they are making enough progress to push back threatened U.S. penalties. The talks also include complaints about Beijing’s plans for government-led technology development, cyber-spying and China’s trade surplus. China’s leaders have offered to narrow its multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the United States by purchasing more natural gas, soybeans and other exports.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 19, 2019 05:37 UTC