Mnuchin says U.S., Chinese call could lead to in-person talks

[July 18, 2019] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Chinese officials will hold a telephone call later on Thursday that could pave the way for further in-person trade talks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on "The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial System" in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

Mnuchin, speaking from the G7 meeting in Chantilly, France, said he and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will participate in the call with their Chinese counterparts, adding that it follows an earlier discussion with their staffs.

"We'll see where we get," he said in an interview. "We continue to make progress. I would expect Ambassador Lighthizer and I to travel over there to have an in-person meeting."

Global stocks were rattled after comments on Tuesday from U.S. President Donald Trump, who reiterated his threat to impose further tariffs on Chinese imports.

"And we have a long way to go as far as tariffs, where China is concerned, if we want. We have another $325 billion that we can put a tariff on if we want," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month agreed to revive trade discussions after talks were derailed in fell apart in May.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Chizu Nomiyama)

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