Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin upbeat after first day of US-China trade war talks in Washington

01/31/2019

|

Sarah Zheng, Wendy Wu, and Owen Churchill | South China Morning Post

  • US treasury secretary makes brief but positive comment as other delegates remain tight-lipped at end of opening negotiations
  • Leader of Chinese delegation, Vice-Premier Liu He, expected to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday

US and Chinese officials had a “good conversation” during the opening session of their high-stakes trade talks in Washington on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said as the two delegations filed out.

With the negotiations set to continue on Thursday, after which Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, it remains to be seen if the two sides can build on their “good” start.

As brief as his comment was, Mnuchin was the most forthcoming of the officials. His colleague Larry Kudlow, one of Trump’s top economic advisers, refused to comment, while Chinese vice-minister for finance Liao Min said only that he was heading out for dinner.

[Read more here.]