Mubasher: A meeting between US president Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to ink an agreement set to end a bitter trade conflict between both sides would be held next April, instead of this month, a news report said.

Despite news about progress in talks between Beijing and Washington, the anticipated meeting between both leaders at Mar-a-Lago resort would now be held at the end of April, should it happen at all, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

In reaction to the report, US stock index futures fell, while China’s offshore yuan (CNH) extended its fall to up to 0.51%, the biggest since 1 February.

Earlier this week, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer pointed to “major issues” that were still unresolved in the negotiations, with meagre signs of a progress on the sticking points, including addressing intellectual property issues.

Moreover, Chinese negotiators also considered that the deal seemed to be one-sided, worried about the possibility of the US president walking away even if his Chinese counterpart were to travel to the US.

Recently, Trump stroke a different tone, shifting from a more urgent approach to getting an agreement clinched as early as March, while acknowledging Beijing’s concerns, and suggesting to delay a summit with Xi until a final deal is concluded.

“We can have the deal completed and come and sign or we can get the deal almost completed and negotiate some of the final points,” Trump said.