The U.S. Trade Representative’s office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the discussions.
Trump has expressed frustration that the talks haven’t brought the sides closer to a deal, even threatening last week that if he can’t deliver a better agreement in the U.S.’s economic relationship with China, then “let’s not do business together. I don’t want to do business.”
Making Excuses
His finger-pointing has extended beyond China. On Friday he lashed out at American businesses for complaining about the rising cost of the import taxes he has now placed on some $360 billion of Chinese imports, accusing them of bad corporate management.
The new 15% U.S. duty on about $112 billion of Chinese products will hit Americans more directly than an existing 25% tax on about $250 billion of goods, targeting consumer staples ranging from footwear and apparel to home textiles, as well as technology products like the Apple Watch. A separate batch of about $160 billion in Chinese goods -- including laptops and mobile phones -- will be hit with 15% tariffs on Dec. 15.
For their part, Chinese officials don’t want to be seen as succumbing to strong-arm tactics like tariffs and are wary about setting a meeting date because of Trump’s tendency to change tack via surprises on Twitter.
Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, told a briefing in Beijing on Monday that “the most important thing at present is to create the necessary conditions for continuing the trade talks between China and the United States.”
China’s export-driven economy is more exposed to the trade war than the U.S., and the toll tariffs are taking is increasingly evident. The nation’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index dropped to 49.5, according to data released Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics, with sub-gauges showing that domestic and new overseas orders contracted.
The government isn’t sounding the alarm just yet. Late Sunday, the State Council, China’s cabinet, released a statement saying that overall risks are “controllable” and the economy is stable. At the same time, counter-cyclical adjustments in economic policy will be increased, according to the statement.
This article provided by Bloomberg News.