The United States is aiming for a possible extension of the tariff pause with China, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a television interview released on Sunday.
Confronted by a CBS News journalist with claims from the Chinese side that the current deadline of August 12 would be postponed, Greer said: “That’s something we’re working toward.”
He said China would want that. The interview was recorded on Friday and broadcast on Sunday.
Greer added that technical issues were being addressed and discussions were continuing with US President Donald Trump.
“I think it’s going in a positive direction,” he said. While he did not want to pre-empt Trump, Greer stated that he did not believe anyone wanted tariffs to rise back above 80 per cent.
Earlier this week, the United States and China had not yet agreed on a possible extension of the tariff pause in their trade dispute. After two days of talks in Stockholm, Sweden, it remained unclear whether the pause would be extended.