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Trump Optimistic on China Trade Deal, Despite Differences on Hong Kong

Nike Ching

   WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump is striking an optimistic tone
   on reaching a trade deal with China, despite Beijing's opposition to a
   law Trump recently signed that expresses support for pro-democracy
   activists in Hong Kong.

   "The Chinese want to make a deal. We'll see what happens," the
   president told reporters Monday, as he departed the White House for the
   NATO summit in London.

   The U.S. leader signed the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act"
   last week, prompting stern protests from China.

   The trade deal between the U.S. and China has stalled as a result,
   according to the news website Axios.

   The news site quotes a source close to Trump's negotiating team as
   saying the trade talks were "now stalled" because of the legislation,
   and time was needed to allow Chinese President Xi Jinping's "domestic
   politics to calm."

   China says it is also taking other steps to retaliate against what it
   sees as U.S. support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

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