WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Phase 1 of trade deal with China would be signed on 15 January at the White House, though considerable confusion remains about the details of the agreement. Last week, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would host a signing ceremony to ink the Phase 1 deal. China bought $130 billion in US goods in 2017, before the trade war began, and $56 billion in services, US data show. The United States launched a trade war against Beijing a year and half ago over allegations of unfair trade practices, such as theft of U.S. intellectual property and subsidies that unfairly benefit Chinese state-owned companies. Asked Tuesday when the deal might be signed, China's foreign ministry spokesman referred questions to China's Department of Commerce.

Source: Mint December 31, 2019 16:30 UTC