China lowers expectations for US trade talks, Trump optimistic

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said: "If we can make a deal, we're going to make a deal, there's a really good chance." "In my opinion China wants to make a deal more than I do, " Trump added. (Filepic)

BEIJING/WASHINGTON: Surprised and upset by the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese companies, China has lowered expectations for significant progress from this week's trade talks with the United States, Chinese government officials told Reuters, even as President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed fresh optimism.

While Beijing theoretically wants to end the trade war, Chinese Communist Party officials are not optimistic about the size or scope of any agreement with Washington in the short-term, the Chinese officials said.