No 'phase two' US-China deal on the...........>

CHINA: No 'phase two' US-China deal on the horizon, officials say (RTRS)

- An ambitious "phase two" trade deal between the United States and China is

looking less likely as the two countries struggle to strike a preliminary "phase

one" agreement, according to U.S. and Beijing officials, lawmakers and trade

experts. In October, U.S. President Donald Trump said during a press conference

with Chinese vice premier Liu He that he expected to quickly dive into a second

phase of talks once "phase one" had been completed. The second phase would focus

on a key U.S. complaint that China effectively steals U.S. intellectual property

by forcing U.S. companies to transfer their technology to Chinese rivals, he

said at the time. But the November 2020 U.S. presidential election, the

difficulties in getting the first-stage done, combined with the White House's

reluctance to work with other countries to pressure Beijing are dimming hopes

for anything more ambitious in the near future, the sources said.