China Seeks US Trade Pact That’s ‘Mutually Beneficial,’ Says Foreign Ministry

The Chinese foreign ministry gave few new details Tuesday on the status of U.S.-China negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive trade accord on technology transfer and intellectual property security. “The working teams of the two sides are in close contact and the relevant consultations have also made progress,” said a spokesperson. “We hope the working teams will implement the important consensus of the two heads of state and reach a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement. This is in the interests of the two countries and also meets the shared aspiration of the international community.” The U.S. was in the “final weeks” of either reaching a “structural,” enforceable trade agreement with China or walking away from the negotiations empty-handed, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified last week (see 1903130036).