Two sides said to agree on timeline for removing tariffs during ‘productive’ talks in Beijing

China and the United States began their latest talks in Beijing on Wednesday aimed at ending a bitter trade war, after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he had a “nice” working dinner the night before with China Vice Premier Liu He.

Trade negotiators led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to Beijing next week, the White House said, as both sides work to reach a draft agreement by next month.

The United States and China are in the final stretch of talks to resolve a conflict over American complaints about China’s unfair trading and economic practices.

A deal ending the trade spat between the U.S. and China would boost container shipments of grain, wheat and soybeans, according to the head of Japan’s largest container-shipping company.

China didn’t follow proper procedures when it imposed trade restrictions on agricultural imports, the World Trade Organization said on Thursday in a ruling that bolsters President Donald Trump’s dispute against Beijing.

After months of diligent negotiations, the U.S. and China are nearing an end to trade talks. Investors are expecting a resolution, but most assumed the deal would be unsubstantive. That’s where markets could be surprised.

U.S. and Chinese officials are tentatively working to finalize a new trade agreement, with a signing ceremony expected as soon as late May, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Japanese officials will hold talks with Beijing this weekend to demand more access to the Chinese market, and their case could be aided by pressure from US President Donald Trump.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday that US-China trade talks continue to make progress and that the two sides have basically settled on a mechanism to police any agreement