CHINA/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump said Thursday [4-4-19] that talks with China on a comprehensive trade agreement continue to make progress, but there is still no date for a summit meeting where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping could finalize a deal…After making that statement, Trump turned to his chief negotiator, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, for affirmation. ‘Yes,’ Lighthizer said, indicating he agreed with Trump’s timeline. One of the sticking points remains how to enforce an agreement, Trump said, adding that many of the toughest issues between the two countries have already been resolved…The Trump administration is pushing for a trade deal that would involve China increasing its purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities, energy products and manufactured goods over the next six years. That would cover Trump’s second term in office, if he is reelected. Trump also wants Beijing to make a number of structural reforms to level the playing field for businesses in China’s market. That includes demands that Beijing end pressure on American companies to hand over technology to Chinese partners to do business in China and reduce government subsidies and other advantages that Chinese companies and state-owned enterprises enjoy.”
–Doug Palmer, “Trump: China trade deal possible in next four weeks,” Politico, April 4, 2019 6:10 pm