Wendy Wu

Chinese commerce ministry says joint effort will be needed and indicated Beijing’s concerns must also be addressed in final talks. Cautious statement also highlights importance of agreement to global economic recovery

Companies fear retaliation from Beijing over its political disputes with their home governments, European Union Chamber of Commerce says in annual position paper. China should ‘depoliticise the business environment’, it says

While Beijing was upbeat about meeting, Brussels focused on market access and reciprocity – sticking points in their investment deal negotiations

American Chamber of Commerce in China says two superpowers should give up ‘unbridled competition’ and be better world leaders on pandemic.

Facing trial in the Senate, US president likely to be too distracted to focus on resolving tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, observers say

Chinese leader says his country is working for an agreement on the basis of ‘mutual respect and equality’ in first public comment on prospects for phase one agreement. Xi tells Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Beijing ‘Chinese dream’ is nothing to fear but country wants to avoid repeating past ‘humiliations’

Chen Wenling, the chief economist for the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, spoke as a Chinese delegation flew to Washington for preliminary talks

Misunderstandings and China’s concerns about being bullied have created distance, says Michael Pillsbury, an outside adviser to Donald Trump. Having no Chinese-language text of the 120-page draft agreement Beijing was potentially agreeing to could present an obstacle