MNI POLICY: USTR: No China Request To Change Purchase Promises

By Evan Ryser

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The U.S. Trade Representative's office has not received

any request from China to discuss changes in purchase commitments due to the

coronavirus outbreak, a government official told MNI. 

     Chinese officials are hoping the U.S. will agree to some flexibility on

pledges in their 'Phase One' deal as Beijing tries to contain a health crisis

that threatens to slow domestic growth, Bloomberg reported Monday. 

     The 'Phase One' deal signed Jan. 15 is supposed to to take effect Feb. 14

but contains a provision that in "the event that a natural disaster or other

unforeseeable event outside the control of the Parties delays" purchases then

the two nations will "consult with each other."

     China committed to buy an extra USD76.7 billion of U.S. goods beyond 2017

levels this year, and an additional USD123.3 billion in the second year. 

     The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose to 362 and total

confirmed cases reached almost 17,500, according to a map by researchers at

Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering. 

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202 371 2121; email: evan.ryser@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MT$$$$,MGU$$$]