Washington (AFP)

US President Donald Trump assured Friday that he did not need to reach a trade deal with China before the 2020 election, stressing the health of the US economy.

The Republican billionaire, who said in early 2018 that the trade wars were "good and easy to win", knows that he is eagerly awaited on this issue that causes the nervousness of the financial markets and raises concerns about US growth.

In search of a second four-year term, the former New York businessman has been trying for months to reassure American farmers who bear the full brunt of Chinese retaliation.

"I do not think I need an agreement before the election," he said at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. "People know we are doing a good job," he hammered, saying he was convinced it would not affect the outcome of the poll.

Engaged in a trade war that has resulted in reciprocal tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in products, the first two world economic powers have increased in recent days signs of appeasement at the approach of a meeting high level in October.

Discussions held Thursday and Friday in Washington before this meeting between Chinese and American negotiators were "productive", Friday provided the services of the US Trade Representative Office (USTR).

But the outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain.

"We want a total agreement, a partial agreement does not interest me," said Trump Friday who regularly boasts of his negotiating skills and denounces the passivity of his predecessors, Democrats as Republicans, on this thorny issue.

"It could go quickly, but it would not be the right agreement, we have to do it well," he said, stressing the extreme complexity of the case, particularly with regard to the protection of intellectual property.

- "Our economy is very strong" -

Washington is demanding that the Chinese authorities put an end to "unfair" business practices, including the forced transfer of US technology, massive subsidies to Chinese state-owned enterprises, and the theft of intellectual property.

The White House tenant reiterated that he had excellent relations with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. "But for the moment, we have a small spat," he added, assuring that time was playing in his favor. "Our economy is very strong, China is very affected, we are not."

China's GDP growth was 6.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, its lowest level in at least 27 years.

Will Australia suffer the collateral damage of this trade war launched by Mr. Trump?

Standing alongside the US President in the White House parlors, Morrison opted for a particularly conciliatory tone, contenting himself with very vague considerations about his country's ability to "adapt to a changing world."

By the end of June, since Sydney, he had adopted an even more vindictive stance.

"Trade tensions have increased, collateral damage is spreading, the global trading system is under pressure, and global growth projections are being reevaluated," he warned.

"The impact of any further deterioration will not be limited to these two major powers," he added.

Morrison's conservative coalition was unexpectedly re-elected in May, mainly on the promise to maintain Australia's remarkable economic boom, which is nearly 28 years of continued growth. But this one is running out of steam.

© 2019 AFP