US-China negotiators race to finalise trade, investment deals before Xi-Trump meeting

US-China negotiators race to nail down concrete deals as Shenzhen Apec looms

US-China negotiators are set to continue intense discussions in the coming weeks as Washington and Beijing work to finalise a complex package of institutional frameworks and economic agreements, multiple sources told the South China Morning Post.

The talks cover investment and trade, with progress reported ahead of another meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said negotiators had made considerable progress on the Board of Investment discussions since Xi and Trump met last month in Washington.

However, hurdles remain before the wider package can be completed, according to the sources.

Xi and Trump are due to meet again on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in China’s southern tech hub in November.

The meeting will be their second in two months and their third this year, the sources said.

The negotiations therefore come as both sides seek to translate progress in investment and trade talks into concrete agreements before the leaders’ next encounter.

The discussions will continue against the backdrop of unresolved complexity surrounding the institutional frameworks and economic arrangements under consideration.

Source: South China Morning Post