Asia

US-China Trade Talks Extended to Third Day Amid Hopes of Deal

Face-to-face trade negotiations between China and the United States have been extended to an unscheduled third day amid hopes that the world’s two largest economies can reach a deal to avoid an all-out confrontation.

‘The United States and China continued trade talks in Beijing for an unscheduled third day amid signs of progress on issues including purchases of US farm and energy commodities and increased access to China’s markets. The talks went “just fine” said Ted McKinney, US under secretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, without giving further details. The US delegation heads home on Wednesday night. McKinney’s upbeat assessment comes after US president Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday evening that “Talks with China are going very well!” People familiar with the talks said the world’s two largest economies remained divided on Chinese structural reforms the Trump administration was demanding in order to stop alleged theft and forced transfer of US technology and on how to hold Beijing to its promises. Hopes that the US and China would strike a deal, ending their months-long trade deal led to an index of world stocks rising on Tuesday, while the dollar, which hit an 11-week low on Monday, rebounded as the euro weakened on concerns about a slowdown in the euro zone economy.’ Reuters reported for The Guardian.

‘Share prices jumped in Asia and markets in Europe and the United States were expected to follow suit as the lengthened talks fuelled optimism that the world’s largest economies were inching towards an agreement. Ted McKinney, US Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, said the US trade delegation would return to the United States later on Wednesday after a “good few days”. “I think they went just fine,” McKinney said of the talks. “It’s been a good one for us,” he told reporters at the delegation’s hotel, without elaborating. Speaking at a daily news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang confirmed both sides had agreed to extend the talks beyond Monday and Tuesday as originally scheduled. Asked if that meant they were difficult talks, Lu said: “I can only say that extending the consultations shows that the two sides were indeed very serious in conducting the consultations.” This week’s meetings are the first face-to-face talks since US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed in December to a 90-day truce in a trade war that has roiled global financial markets.’ Reuters reported for Independent Business World.

North Korea’s Kim Visiting China at Xi Jinping’s Invitation

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited China for a four-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, as preparations increase for a second summit with US President Donald Trump.

‘The trip marks Kim’s first overseas visit in 2019 after a year that saw him look to the outside world. In 2018, Kim met with Xi three times—the same number of times as South Korean President Moon Jae-in. During his first meeting with Xi last year in March, which was also his first overseas trip since assuming the mantle of leadership in North Korea in December 2011 after his father Kim Jong Il’s death, the Chinese president emphasized the importance of “high-level exchanges” between the two countries. Xi made four proposals, noting first that “High-level exchanges have always played the most important guiding and promoting role in the history of China-DPRK relations.” “Under the new circumstances, I am willing to keep frequent contacts with Comrade Chairman through various forms such as exchange of visits, and sending special envoys and letters to each other,” he added. Kim would return to China twice: once before his summit meeting with U.S. President Donald J. Trump in Singapore in May and once after, in June. During the final trip, Xi accepted an invitation from Kim to visit Pyongyang. That visit has yet to take place. Though China has historically been North Korea’s most important partner and closest benefactor, relations between Pyongyang and Beijing had appeared to cool as North Korea pursued the completion of its nuclear deterrent—a milestone that Kim celebrated in November 2017. The Sino-North Korean rapprochement that began last year saw both sides emphasizing the enduring historic nature of the relationship between the two countries.’ Ankit Panada writes for The Diplomat.

‘Any assessment of China’s willingness is important, Kazianis continued, because it would also give Kim an idea of how far he can push back against Washington’s pressure campaign against Pyongyang if the Trump administration refuses to compromise on sanctions relief. On Monday a high-ranking North Korean, reported by South Korean media to be Kim, appeared to be travelling through China by train, although the identity of the traveller was not immediately confirmed. Several hours later, however both China’s Xinhua News Agency and the North’s Korean Central News Agency confirmed the traveller was Kim. Kim was visiting China from Monday to Thursday, KCNA said on Tuesday morning. Kim, with his wife Ri Sol-ju, was accompanied by Kim Yong-chol, Ri Su-yong, Pak Thae-song, Ri Yong-ho, No Kwang-chol and other leading North Korean officials, KCNA said. Xinhua announced that Kim was visiting “at the invitation of Xi Jinping.’ Zhenhua Lu writes for South China Morning Post.

Middle East & North Africa

Pompeo Delivers Trump’s Vision in Cairo: Confrontation with Iran

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has launched a scathing broadside against Iran, laying out the Trump administration’s vision for the Middle East in a keynote speech at the American University in Cairo.

‘Pompeo rebuked the administration of former US President Barack Obama for their “misguided” and “wishful” thinking that diminished the US’s role in the region and emboldened its main foe: Iran. The top US diplomat also criticised Obama for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. He blamed the previous administration for the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and Iran’s increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. Describing the US as a “force for good” in the Middle East, Pompeo sought to reassure allies that it remained committed to the “complete dismantling” of the threat posed by the ISIL group despite Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria.’ Reuters reported for Al Jazeera.

‘US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to lay out a vision for America’s relationship with the Middle East at a time of widespread confusion over Washington’s policy on several key matters, and what analysts called huge gap between America’s ambitions and its willingness to act. Mr Pompeo spoke Thursday on the campus of  the American University in Cairo, the same city where President Barack Obama delivered a landmark Middle East speech a decade ago. The longtime Republican Party foreign policy hawk sought to distance the administration of President Donald Trump from what he called the mistakes of his predecessor, vowed to fight Islamic extremism, confront Iran, and stay true to Washington’s longtime allies — Israel, and the autocracies in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.’ Borzou Daragahi writes for The Independent.

‘Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laid out his vision for America’s role in the Middle East on Thursday, telling a university audience in Cairo that “the age of self-inflicted American shame is over” and that the United States would pursue a more activist policy, despite President Trump’s decision to pull troops out of Syria. Mr. Pompeo’s prescription was short on specifics, beyond bolstering alliances with Arab autocrats loyal to Washington. Instead he painted a picture of a Middle East cast into chaos by President Barack Obama, and that can only be rescued by crushing Iran. He advocated a policy of containment of Iran’s power, pressing for allies in the region to isolate the country. He vowed to “expel every last Iranian boot” from Syria, but offered no plan to achieve that goal at a moment when the American force of 2,000 troops is scheduled to withdraw.’ Declan Walsh and David E. Sanger write for  New York Times.

Sub Saharan Africa

Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir Vows to Stay in Power as Protests Rage

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has told a rally of his supporters on Wednesday he would stay in power, as protesters massed a few miles away, calling for him to step down.

‘The rally backing al-Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since 1989 when he swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup, came as rival protesters launched new demonstrations in the city of Omdurman.

Hundreds of riot policemen, soldiers and security agents, some carrying machine guns, were deployed around the site of the pro-Bashir rally in the Green Yard, a large open ground in Khartoum, an AFP correspondent reported.

Dressed in a khaki shirt and trousers and waving a stick, a smiling al-Bashir greeted the cheering crowd as men and women, who arrived in buses from early in the morning, whistled and waved flags.’ Reuters reported for Al Jazeera.

‘Sudan’s economy has stagnated for most of al-Bashir’s rule. He has also failed to unite or keep the peace in the religiously and ethnically diverse nation, losing three quarters of Sudan’s oil wealth when the mainly animist and Christian south seceded in 2011 following a referendum. Critics say rampant corruption is eating up a significant part of government funds and engineering shortages of basic items to manipulate prices. The protesters have been chanting against the “government of thieves.” Authorities have said that 19 people died in the three weeks of protests, while Human Rights Watch said Tuesday at least 40 people have been killed since the protests erupted. Sudan’s Interior Minister Ahmed Bilal Othman told lawmakers on Tuesday that police have arrested 816 people.’ Samy Magdy writes for Washington Post.

Europe

British PM May Cautions of ‘Catastrophe’ if Brexit Plan Rejected

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has warned legislators ready to reject her EU divorce deal that failing to deliver Brexit would be “catastrophic” for the country’s democracy.

‘The UK is poised to leave the EU on March 29, two years after it triggered Article 50, the exit clause in the EU’s constitution, and kick-started arduous negotiations with European leaders over a divorce deal. But May is facing an uphill task to save her withdrawal agreement – forged during 18 months of talks between London and Brussels – from a crushing defeat in parliament. MPs are due to vote on May’s deal on Tuesday.  The deal has come under fire from across the political spectrum, with opponents of the EU seeking a cleaner break and pro-European legislators pressing for a second vote on membership of the bloc. Reuters reported for Al Jazeera.

‘Theresa May has embarked on many crucial weeks in her two-and-a-half-year premiership, thanks to Brexit, but these coming days look set to be the most decisive yet. “We are going to live through an extraordinary week, writing an extraordinary page of our history, and not one of us knows the words on that page, what we will be reading on that page, in seven days’ time,” British constitutional expert Peter Hennessy said Sunday. The focus will be the vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal — nearly two months after the withdrawal agreement was struck with the European Union.’ Jane Merrick reports for the CNN.

Americas

Trump Threatens National Emergency in ‘Next Few Days’ Over Wall and Shutdown

As US President Donald Trump headed to the country’s southern border with Mexico on Thursday, federal workers, unions and some Democrats rallied in the nation’s capital against the ongoing partial government shutdown.

‘Trump’s trip to Texas to make his case for a wall on the US-Mexico border comes on the 20th day of the shutdown, which was born from Trump’s demand that Congress provide more than $5bn in funding for the wall, a measure that Democrats have opposed. “Let’s call this shutdown what it is: It’s a lockout,” Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions, told the crowd. “Shame on the Senate. Shame on the White House. This lockout has to end, and it has to end now.” Trumka added, “Instead of going to the border for a photo op, President Trump should be on the Hill negotiating a deal to open the federal government and put out people back to work.’ Reuters reported for Al Jazeera.

‘Democrats sought unsuccessfully Thursday to pass bills to reopen shuttered government agencies as President Trump headed to the U.S.-Mexico border in a bid to gain leverage in a stalemate over funding his long-promised border wall. With a partial government shutdown now nearly three weeks old, Trump visited a Border Patrol station Thursday afternoon in McAllen, Tex., then headed to the Rio Grande for a briefing. Before leaving the White House, Trump said that if he can’t cut a deal with Congress, he “probably” will declare a national emergency and direct the military to build a wall without congressional consent.’ Felicia Sonmez and John Wagner write for Washington Post.