After Positive Trade Talks, U.S. Looks for Binding Commitments From China

After Positive Trade Talks, U.S. Looks for Binding Commitments From China
A woman walks by a bench painted with the U.S. flag at a popular shopping mall in Beijing, Jan. 6, 2019 (AP photo by Andy Wong).

Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, WPR Newsletter and Engagement Editor Benjamin Wilhelm curates the week’s top news and expert analysis on China.

The United States and China appear to have made progress in trade negotiations that wrapped up Wednesday afternoon in Beijing, but it remains unclear whether that will translate into a resolution to their ongoing trade dispute.

In a sign of Beijing’s commitment to reaching a deal with Washington, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He—President Xi Jinping’s top economic aide and the official in charge of Beijing’s trade talks with Washington—made a surprise appearance at Monday’s talks, which were officially conducted at the vice-ministerial level. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted that “talks with China are going very well!” And a statement from the U.S. Trade Representative noted a Chinese pledge to “purchase a substantial amount” of American goods and services.

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