Trump Hails 'Big Progress' Towards China Trade Deal

President hails ‘big progress’ after call with Xi Jinping
U.S.-China relations face turning point on 40th anniversary

The timing of Trump’s tweet is suspicious, according to Isaac Stone Fish, Asia Society senior fellow.(Source: Bloomberg)

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By Maria Jose Valero and Jenny Leonard

December 29, 2018 at 4:19 PM UTC

Updated on

December 31, 2018 at 2:50 AM UTC

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President Donald Trump reported “big progress” in trade talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, providing an optimistic start to what could be a make-or-break year for ties between the world’s two largest economies.

The two presidents spoke at length by telephone Saturday, with each expressing satisfaction with trade talks initiated after their meeting earlier this month in Argentina. Trump said in a tweet that negotiations were “moving along very well” toward a comprehensive deal, while Chinese state media said Xi believed both sides wanted “stable progress.”