The United States and China were nearing a trade deal that would lift tariffs, open the Chinese market to US companies and strengthen China’s intellectual property protections. “We were getting very close to a deal then they started to renegotiate the deal,” Trump said. Trump’s decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on nearly one-third of all Chinese products is the biggest trade action that Trump has taken so far. A Trump administration official familiar with the plans said the meal would not have ceremonial trappings. But when it comes to trade, French said, the Trump administration had been intransigent about their tariff concerns.

Source: bd News24 May 09, 2019 22:52 UTC