White House announces new round of trade talks with China

The White House on Monday announced a new round of trade negotiations with China as the Trump administration seeks an elusive deal with Beijing.

Top officials from the U.S. and China will “discuss the trade relationship between the two countries” on Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, according to the White House.

President Trump is facing pressure from business groups to strike an agreement with Beijing, which he has long accused of ripping off the U.S. on trade.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead the president’s team and will be accompanied by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow and White House trade adviser Peter Navarro.

The U.S. and China last held high level meetings in Beijing from Jan. 7 to 9.

Trump announced in December he would hold off on raising tariffs on billions of dollars in Chinese goods to 25 percent in order to buy time to negotiate a broader agreement with Beijing.