A new round of trade talks between the U.S. and China begins in Beijing this week, with both sides hoping to reach a trade deal by the end of this month.
Ro Aram reports.
Working-level talks will to kick off Monday, while higher principal-level talks will take place Thursday and Friday with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in attendance.
Investors will be looking to see if both sides can hammer out a deal before a March 1st deadline to avert higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
However, prospects are not looking good.
Lighthizer said recently that it's not certain a pact could be reached.
President Trump has also said he's unlikely to meet President Xi Jinping before the deadline, dampening hopes of a speedy resolution.
If a deal is not reached by the beginning of next month then Washington is set to more than double tariffs on 200 billion dollars-worth of Chinese imports.
U.S. officials have said March 1st is a hard deadline, but President Trump has suggested a possible extension if progress was being made.
There are still many sticking points to iron out.
U.S. negotiators will likely continue to urge China to make structural reforms and end what the U.S. claims to be unfair trade practices.
These include accusations of intellectual property theft and forcing American companies to share their technology with Chinese firms.
Beijing denies it engages in such practices.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.