US trade representative says efforts on a phase-two deal with China have faltered

Washington’s top trade official said on Wednesday that negotiations with Beijing are not progressing and that the US must deepen economic relations both with traditional allies and countries beyond that sphere, particularly in Asia and Africa.

Speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that talks with China intended to forge an agreement on issues beyond the phase-one deal reached more than two years ago “have been unduly difficult and we need to turn the page on the old playbook”.