INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China and the United States have agreed to halt new tariffs, as the two countries aim to reach a trade agreement within 90 days, the White
House has said.US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Argentina in an attempt to thaw the trade war
between their countries that has rumbled on throughout 2018.Mr Trump has reaffirmed his commitment not to boost tariffs on $200bn of Chinese
goods to 25% on 1 January.While Mr Xi agreed to buy an unspecified but "very substantial" amount of agricultural, energy, industrial and
other products, the White House said.The White House also said China "is open to approving the previously unapproved Qualcomm Inc NXP deal
should it again be presented".The White House said that if a trade agreement on issues including intellectual property, cyber theft and
agriculture have not been reached with China within 90 days, then both parties agree that the 10% tariffs will be raised to
25%.Image:Christine Lagarde urged trade tensions could harm global growthChinese state TV said: "No additional tariffs will be imposed after
January 1, and negotiations between the two sides will continue."It comes as International Monetary Fund (IMF) director Christine Lagarde
urged G20 leaders to urgently de-escalate trade tensions and reverse tariff hikes.The economic heavyweight warned that otherwise global
growth could slow.
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Video:Theresa May says the UK will have an independent trade
policy and be able to make trade deals around the world after Brexit."Pressures on emerging markets have been rising and trade tensions have
begun to have a negative impact, increasing downside risks," Ms Lagarde said in a statement issued at the conclusion of the G20 summit in
Buenos Aires.As the summit in Argentina closed,Theresa May told Sky News a Chequers-style arrangement would allow us to join the new Trans
Pacific Partnership when she was asked if she had been speaking to fellow leaders at the event about UK trade post-Brexit.She then added:
"Don't forget that what's important about world trade is that trade and the future of trade is about more than goods".
