World

China confirms economy czar going to Washington for talks

10 of May 2019

AP Photo, Liu He, Steven Mnuchin, Robert Lighthizer,FILE - In this Wednesday, May 1, 2019, file photo, members of U.S. and China delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, stand for a group photo session after their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Chinese envoys are preparing to travel to the United States for trade talks, a government spokesman said Monday, May 6, 2019, suggesting negotiations on ending a bruising tariff war will proceed despite President Donald Trump's threat to raise import taxes. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool, File)

BEIJING (AP) — China’s government has confirmed its economy czar will go to Washington as scheduled this week for trade negotiations despite President Donald Trump’s threat of new tariff hikes in a fight over Beijing’s technology ambitions.

Tuesday’s announcement indicated Beijing decided to go ahead with high-level negotiations despite fears it might cancel or downgrade the talks to show frustration with Trump’s surprise threat.

Vice Premier Liu He will visit Washington on Thursday and Friday for the 11th round of talks on the tariff war, the Commerce Ministry said. It said he would meet his American counterparts, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.