The US and China launched talks on Thursday, May 17, to avoid a trade war, according to media reports. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro who is the harshest critic of Chinese trade policy is reported not to be the principal player and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead the negotiations.
In April, the US suggested tariffs on $100 billion worth of Chinese imports, in response to which China said that it would not hesitate to retaliate.