Chinese vice-premier Liu He and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer resumed trade negotiations in Beijing yesterday as markets grow more optimistic they can avoid an escalation of the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
However, while sentiment over the talks drove Chinese stocks higher this week and helped European stocks to touch a three-month high yesterday, analysts warned significant obstacles remained to reaching a deal.
The biggest impediment to a deal by March 1, when US president Donald Trump has threatened to double the tariff assessed on about half of all Chinese imports, is disagreement over the backing Chinese companies enjoy from government subsidies, industrial policies and state-owned banks.