U.S. Remains Quiet on China Trade Front

The Trump administration remains quiet ahead of talks with China next week, fueling concerns that concessions by China may not be enough to satisfy U.S. demands. Bloomberg News reports the measures by China to open its economy “mostly fall short” of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer’s demands. Lighthizer wants changes on alleged forced technology transfer and theft of intellectual property. China’s moves to open its economy included renewed purchases of U.S. soybeans and rice, critical for a down ag economy. However, With Lighthizer demanding “structural changes” on technology transfers, China continues to complain “it’s not clear the U.S. side knows what it wants.” A Trade analyst recently told Blomberg “it’s hard to imagine” a deal can be reached by the U.S.-set deadline of March first. Trade officials from the U.S. and China will meet in Beijing next week.