Talks between the US and China are moving closer to a leaders' meeting and a trade agreement, US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said.
According to him, the second day of trade talks between the US and China paves the way for a productive meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This, Greer noted, gives hope for an agreement between the world's two largest economies.
I think we are approaching a point where the leaders will have a very productive meeting," Greer said (quoted by Reuters).
Trump arrived in the Malaysian capital on the morning of October 26 to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The American president's five-day Asian tour is expected to culminate with a face-to-face meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea on October 30, Reuters reports.
On October 15, Trump declared the United States in a trade war with China, emphasizing that tariffs are a key tool for protecting national security. Earlier, on October 11, the US president promised to impose 100% tariffs on goods from China.
Trump said he would primarily discuss the fentanyl issue at his meeting with the Chinese president. The US president accused China of smuggling fentanyl through Venezuela to circumvent US and Mexican port controls, noting that they currently pay a 20% tariff, costing them billions of dollars. The two sides also intend to discuss issues related to Russia and Ukraine.
