SCMP reports that China has sought to temper expectations ahead of trade talks in Washington next week
The report notes that Beijing negotiators have suggested that the message from the US camp - that talks are entering its 'endgame' or 'final round of efforts' - should not be taken seriously and that it is merely a tactic to generate pressure for a deal to be struck.
The details of the report reveal that Taoran Notes, a social media account used by Beijing to release trade talk information and to manage domestic expectations, say that hints from the US that next week's talks are a deadline is "merely a trick to increase tensions and generate pressure on the other side".
Adding that:
"It's the same tactic as the US threatening to raise tariffs, it is merely smoke and mirrors to exert extreme pressure [on China]," the post said. "You don't have to take it seriously."
It warned that there is still a possibility that the two sides will end up in "an unhappy departure" if one side wants the other to make compromises and neglects "fairness in negotiation".
This doesn't look like something that is reverberating through main media channels just yet but it is something to be wary about as it could potentially scupper optimism in the equities market later today.
