China, US officials agree to ‘framework’ that will need approvals by Xi, Trump

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said trade talks with China under way in London since Monday could spill into a third day and suggested the two sides were making progress.

“We’re working on all sorts of trade issues, and I think the talks are going really, really well,” Lutnick told reporters gathered outside Lancaster House, the British government mansion where the dialogue is taking place.

“We’re … spending time and effort and energy. Everybody’s got their head down, working closely through it,” he said close to 8pm local time. “I hope they end this evening, but, if need be, we’ll be here tomorrow.”

The talks are the latest bid to defuse tensions between the world’s two largest economies over an array of trade and technology issues, which remain at boiling point despite their agreeing to a temporary deal last month to scale back tariffs on each other’s goods.

The meeting in London came just days after a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, during which the leaders agreed to push forward with negotiations aimed at resolving their ongoing economic disputes.

  

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