Trump officials set for new round of China trade talks at White House

Trump administration officials are gearing up for a new round of trade talks with Chinese officials at the White House on Thursday after a U.S. trade delegation traveled to China earlier this month. 

The White House announced on Wednesday that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and additional senior officials would meet on Thursday with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.

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Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that White House trade adviser Peter Navarro would be excluded from the talks, but a White House official told The Hill that Navarro would be attending the meeting, along with chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow and trade adviser Everett Eissenstat. 

Bloomberg cited administration officials who said Navarro had tensions with the economic team when the U.S. trade delegation, headed by Mnuchin, met with Chinese trade officials in Beijing earlier this month.

Axios also reported on tensions during the trip to Beijing, saying Navarro and Mnuchin had a tense exchange over Mnuchin’s decision to take part in one-on-one talks with China. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 

Navarro has expressed hawkish views on Chinese trade policies in the past, even writing a book titled “Death by China.”

He said last month that President Trump’s exchange of tariff threats with Beijing will serve as a “wake-up call” for Americans about unfair Chinese economic policies.

U.S.-Chinese trade relations have been on shaky ground in recent months. 

The Trump administration slapped a $50 billion tariff package on China last month over what it says are unfair trade practices, with 25 percent tariffs being leveled on Chinese electronics, shoes, furniture and other goods.

China hit back with its own tariffs shortly after.

Trump last weekend appeared to show support for Chinese telecommunications company ZTE after he tweeted that he is working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to get ZTE “back into business, fast.”

The Commerce Department last month banned American companies from selling components to ZTE because the Chinese firm violated U.S. sanctions by selling equipment to Iran. 

Trump clarified his remarks on Monday, saying the remarks are part of ongoing trade negotiations with China and “my personal relationship with President Xi.”