O US trade representativeJamieson Greer, expressed optimism regarding a possible trade agreement between the USA and China when President Donald Trump meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week.
Greer, along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, held meetings with senior Chinese officials on Saturday and Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, where, according to Greer, they negotiated one.
The meeting takes place amid high-risk negotiations with global economic implications amid a long trade war.
“I believe we are moving toward final details of the kind that leaders can review and decide whether they want to complete together,” Greer told reporters.
He described the discussions as “comprehensive” and “constructive”.
“We’ve had very constructive discussions with our Chinese counterparts. We believe we’re getting to a point where we have something to present to leaders,” he said, noting that there have been conversations about rare earth minerals, among other topics.
Negotiators, he said, are “getting to the point where leaders will have a very productive meeting next week.”
On Saturday (25), Trump indicated that he was open to making some, suggesting a “very good chance of reaching a very comprehensive agreement.”
“They have to make concessions. I think we would too. We’re at a 157% tariff for them. I don’t think that’s sustainable for them, and they want to reduce that. And we want certain things from them,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
