(VOVWORLD) - The leaders of the US and China on Friday both underscored their desire to sign an initial trade deal and defuse a 16-month tariff war that has lowered global growth.
 A photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump taken during Trump’s visit to Beijing on November, 2017 (Photo: Bloomberg/CNBC) |
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in comments on the trade tensions with Washington, said Beijing wants to work out an interim or "phase one" trade pact, but is not afraid to retaliate when necessary. The comment was made at the New Economy Forum organized in Beijing by Bloomberg LP.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump said a trade accord with China is “potentially very close”. Speaking on Fox New Channel’s Fox & Friends, Trump also urged China and Hong Kong (China) to calm the situation in Hong Kong.