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US-China trade deal is closer but we’re watching Hong Kong, Donald Trump says
- Talks on phase one deal ‘in final throes’ after phone conversation between China’s Liu He and US’ Robert Lighthizer and Steven Mnuchin
- ‘But we want to see it go well in Hong Kong,’ US president says
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US President Donald Trump said an interim trade agreement with China was moving closer following Tuesday’s telephone call between the countries’ top negotiators, but added that he was monitoring events in Hong Kong after months of anti-government protests in the city.
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“We’re in the final throes of a very important deal,” Trump said at the White House. “It’s going very well, but at the same time we want to see it go well in Hong Kong.”
His comments on Tuesday came hours after a phone conversation between Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and the United States’ Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
China’s Ministry of Commerce disclosed the call on Tuesday, saying the two sides had “reached a consensus” on how to resolve core concerns and would continue to work on remaining issues related to their trade war, ongoing since July last year.
Trump said he expected Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure a positive outcome for Hong Kong, which has been gripped by unrest for almost six months. The city has emerged as an acute point of tension in US-China relations as they negotiate over the trade deal.
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