Trump plans meeting with Chinese vice premier as trade talks intensify

By The editor On Oct 10, 2019

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President Donald Trump listens to China’s Vice Premier Liu He (R) in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 31, 2019. Trump said he would meet Liu on Friday, a day after the latest round of high-level U.S.-China talked kicked off.

President Donald Trump said he’s planning a Friday meeting with China’s trade negotiator, as high-level talks reopened in Washington amid uncertainty over sealing a substantive agreement with Beijing.

CHINA TALKS

Tweeting shortly after the resumption of talks, Trump said, “Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I? I meet with the Vice Premier tomorrow at The White House.”

U.S. stocks

DJIA, +0.86%

were trading firmly higher Thursday as the negotiations resumed. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office around 9 a.m. Thursday for discussions with USTR Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The discussions resumed amid reports overnight suggesting the Chinese delegation would leave Washington on Thursday, and that the Trump administration may put in place a previously agreed upon currency

USDCNY, -0.2201%

deal with China ahead of schedule, as well as suspend tariff hikes. Trump has consistently said he’ll only make an agreement that’s good for the U.S., and has said he prefers a comprehensive versus partial deal.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin smile for reporters before kicking off trade talks on Thursday in Washington.

Now see: Stocks hit session highs as Trump plans to meet China’s chief trade negotiator.

RALLY AS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY PROCEEDS

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Minneapolis Thursday night, amid a feud with the city’s mayor and Democrats’ ongoing impeachment inquiry.

The president criticized a Fox News poll, saying “whoever their Pollster is, they suck,” as the network’s survey showed 51% of registered voters want Trump to be impeached and removed from office. Trump tweeted that the conservative-leaning network “doesn’t deliver for US anymore. It is so different than it used to be. Oh well, I’m President!”

Trump, who narrowly lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton in 2016, is battling Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over the costs associated with the campaign rally. Frey, a Democrat, has said Trump’s campaign would be on the hook for more than $500,000 in expenses, prompting a lawsuit threat from the campaign.

Also read: Here are Democrats’ options as Trump refuses to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.

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