Tariff hike looms over trade talks

WASHINGTON—U.S. and Chinese representatives are meeting Thursday to try to save sinking trade negotiations before a planned tariff hike Friday on $200 billion in Chinese goods. President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that the two sides expected a positive outcome from the talks until recently, when “China broke the deal” by attempting to renegotiate key points. Tariffs will climb from 10 percent to 25 percent at 12:01 a.m. Friday if the trade envoys don’t make progress at their meeting Thursday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, the country’s chief trade negotiator, is scheduled to sit down with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin late Thursday afternoon. Beijing has threatened to retaliate if the United States raises tariffs.