US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he had "constructive" talks in Beijing, concluding the latest round of dialogue aimed at resolving the bitter trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. Mnuchin and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer were in the Chinese capital for the first face-to-face meetings between the two sides in weeks after missing an initial end-of-March deadline. "I look forward to welcoming China's Vice Premier Liu He to continue these important discussions in Washington next week," he wrote on Twitter. Earlier, he told reporters he had a "very productive working dinner" on Thursday night. He did not elaborate and it was not immediately clear with whom he had dined. Trump imposed tariffs on $US250 billion ($A352 billion) of Chinese imports last year in a move to force China to change the way it does business with the rest of the world, and to pry open more of its economy to US companies. On Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing would sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies, fuelling speculation that China may soon announce new rules allowing foreign financial firms to increase their presence. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the United States may drop some tariffs if a trade deal is reached, while keeping others in place to ensure Beijing's compliance. "We're not going to give up our leverage," he told reporters in Washington on Thursday. US President Donald Trump's demands include an end to Beijing's practices that Washington says result in the systematic theft of US intellectual property and the forced transfer of American technology to Chinese companies. China says its laws enshrine no requirements on technology transfers, which are a result of legitimate transactions. Australian Associated Press
US Trade Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the talks were constructive.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he had "constructive" talks in Beijing, concluding the latest round of dialogue aimed at resolving the bitter trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.
Mnuchin and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer were in the Chinese capital for the first face-to-face meetings between the two sides in weeks after missing an initial end-of-March deadline.
"I look forward to welcoming China's Vice Premier Liu He to continue these important discussions in Washington next week," he wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, he told reporters he had a "very productive working dinner" on Thursday night. He did not elaborate and it was not immediately clear with whom he had dined.
Trump imposed tariffs on $US250 billion ($A352 billion) of Chinese imports last year in a move to force China to change the way it does business with the rest of the world, and to pry open more of its economy to US companies.
On Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing would sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies, fuelling speculation that China may soon announce new rules allowing foreign financial firms to increase their presence.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the United States may drop some tariffs if a trade deal is reached, while keeping others in place to ensure Beijing's compliance.
"We're not going to give up our leverage," he told reporters in Washington on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump's demands include an end to Beijing's practices that Washington says result in the systematic theft of US intellectual property and the forced transfer of American technology to Chinese companies.
China says its laws enshrine no requirements on technology transfers, which are a result of legitimate transactions.
