By James Pomfret, Clare Jim and Davide Barbuscia HONG KONG/NEW YORK (Reuters) -The proposed inclusion of Chinese shipping giant COSCO in Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's contentious global ports sale is a potential win for Beijing in a strategic sector,

President Trump has long complained about the trade deficit with China, which last year saw the US buy $295bn (£221bn) more goods from China than the other way round. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the US was already on track to reduce that gap by $50bn this year.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller clap after an announcement of a trade deal between the US and EU in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27.

A top Chinese official reiterated the country’s commitment to “healthy” development with American businesses during a meeting in Beijing with a delegation of executives from US companies, including Apple Inc.

After a “constructive” round of talks ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “Nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump.”

Beyond dancing robots and eager-to-help digital avatars, Shanghai's World AI Conference saw China stake its claim to global artificial intelligence leadership and frame itself as a clear alternative to the United States.

Taiwan's foreign ministry spokesperson told Newsweek there was "no such thing as a postponement, cancellation, or the U.S. side refusing a transit stop."

Beijing's top trade official says China and the United States have agreed to work on extending a deadline for new tariffs on each other after two days of trade talks in Stockholm