China denies it has offered a $200 billion package to slash U.S. trade gap

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



MAY 18, 2018 / 12:07 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Michael Martina, Tony Munroe


BEIJING (Reuters) - China denied on Friday that it had offered a package to slash the U.S. trade deficit by up to $200 billion, hours after it dropped an anti-dumping probe into U.S. sorghum imports in a conciliatory gesture as top negotiators meet in Washington.

U.S. officials had said on Thursday that China was proposing trade concessions and increased purchases of American goods aimed at cutting the U.S. trade deficit with China by up to $200 billion a year.

“This rumor is not true. This I can confirm to you,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing. “As I understand, the relevant consultations are ongoing and they are constructive,” he said, adding that he could not elaborate on the specifics of the negotiations.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is in Washington this week for talks with U.S. officials led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin aimed at heading off a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china/china-denies-it-has-offered-a-200-billion-package-to-slash-us-trade-gap-idUSKCN1IJ0A0

[yallerdawg]

1. What if they pledged to reduce US purchases by $200 billion?

Would that make the Dotard happy?