Singapore: US President Donald Trump is optimistic that he will strike a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they are expected to meet in South Korea this week, as both countries’ trade negotiators agreed to a framework to be signed off by the leaders.

US and Chinese officials emerged from two days of trade talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia on Sunday talking up “constructive” discussions on key sources of tension, but did not reveal the full details of what had been agreed.

The Chinese side said the talks canvassed tariffs, fentanyl trafficking cooperation, agricultural trade, and export controls, while the US side added that it had sought a rollback on China’s recent expansion of rare earth export restrictions.

Pres

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