Washington (AFP)
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States was "very close" to a "big deal" with China after 19 months of a fierce trade war between the world's two leading economies.
"We are VERY close to a GREAT AGREEMENT with China," tweeted the White House tenant. "They want it, and we want it too!", He added.
Beijing said on Thursday that the negotiators of the two countries maintained "close communication", without further details.
The two countries have been fighting for 19 months, resulting in the mutual imposition of additional tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in annual trade.
In the absence of progress, a new burst of customs surcharges must come into effect Sunday in the United States. It will target Chinese goods previously spared, such as electronics and sportswear.
The possible announcement of a trade agreement with Beijing in the coming days would allow the Republican billionaire to brag about his negotiating skills in the run-up to his indictment by the House of Representatives in the Ukrainian case, which is expected to take place next week.
The White House has not given any details on what the "grand bargain" the US president is talking about could match.
Beijing and Washington are bitterly negotiating a preliminary agreement under which China would increase purchases of US agricultural products. In return, the United States would waive further tariff increases on Chinese products scheduled for December 15.
But this agreement, announced as imminent for several weeks by the administration of Donald Trump, is slow to materialize.
This trade war, which is already penalizing export-oriented Chinese firms, is now threatening the growth of the Asian giant. It fell to 6% year-on-year in the third quarter, its lowest level in 27 years.
© 2019 AFP