CHINA/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump said on Thursday [2-7-19] that he would not meet this month with President Xi Jinping of China, raising new concerns that the United States will not be able to complete a trade deal with China before American tariffs increase on March 2. The decision not to meet ahead of the deadline was a reversal for Mr. Trump, who said last week that he planned to meet with Mr. Xi to resolve any ‘final issues’ before a trade deal. Mr. Trump, who made the comments during two days of negotiations between American and Chinese trade officials, suggested a face-to-face meeting could be combined with his trip to Asia in late February for a summit meeting with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. On Thursday, Mr. Trump ruled out such a meeting before the March deadline. Asked by reporters if the meeting with Mr. Xi would take place in the next month or so, Mr. Trump said: ‘Maybe. Probably too soon.’ As to whether the two leaders would meet before the deadline, Mr. Trump said, ‘no’ and nodded his head.”
–Alan Rappeport, “Trump Will Not Meet President Xi Jinping of China Before Trade Deal Deadline,” The New York Times online, February 7, 2019