US Turns Down China Offer Of Preparatory Trade Talks

[50 shades of black + 254]

The Trump administration rejected an offer by two Chinese vice-ministers to travel to the US this week for preparatory trade talks because of a lack of progress on two important issues, highlighting the difficulty that Washington and Beijing will face in trying to reach agreement by a deadline of March 1.
This week’s planned trip by Wang Shouwen and Liao Min was intended to pave the way for a higher-level meeting in Washington on January 30 and 31 by Liu He, China vice-premier, and Robert Lighthizer, US trade representative.  But, according to people briefed on the negotiations, US officials cancelled this week’s face-to-face meetings with Mr Wang, a vice-minister of commerce, and Mr Liao, a vice-minister of finance, because of a lack of progress on “forced” technology transfers and potentially far-reaching “structural” reforms to China’s economy.  The two issues could ultimately derail the talks and cause more worry for financial markets. They are already jittery about the consequences of escalating tensions between the two largest economies. If an agreement is not reached by March 1, President Donald Trump has said he will more than double the punitive tariff rate imposed on about half of all Chinese exports to the US, from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.
 

[pinto + 293]

Crises are a permanent and only multiply ..does not look good

[ronwagn + 6,290]

Trump knows that forced technology transfers and theft must be stopped one way or another. Freedom of speech and other human rights abuses should also be dealt with. China should be shunned as a trade partner unless it changes its ways. We do not need China, but it does need us. The crony capitalists in Congress will not support him fully, however. They are among the crony capitalists and get most of their donations from them. The National Chamber of Commerce is their largest spokesman. 

China Stories https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wb2YoQGpSWTz32ljsiA_ey6FLVqc2Dpe7Fnpiqn9lBs/edit