China Stays Upbeat About Trade Deal With U.S. – The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal

BEIJING — China offered its most positive message in recent weeks that trade talks with the U.S. are going smoothly after a phone call Tuesday between the countries’ top negotiators, raising the prospects for a limited deal.

China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides had “reached a consensus on properly resolving related issues. ”The message, though short and formulaic, followed a phone call between China’s chief trade negotiator, Liu He, and his US counterparts, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary …