Amid the escalating trade tensions between the world two biggest economic powers,... China,... the world's largest soybean buyer has put purchases of American supplies on hold.<br />Despite the intensifying trade conflict,... President Trump say Washington is doing well in trade talks and Beijing wants to make a deal.<br />Lee Seung-jae reports.<br />U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to escalate the trade war with China this month,... raising tariffs on about 200-billion dollars of Chinese goods,... has prompted Beijing to retaliate with tough duties of its own.<br />China's move could bite as the world's largest soybean buyer has put purchases of American supplies on hold.<br />According to sources familiar with the matter,... state-grain buyers in China haven't made or received any further orders,... though previous orders will not be cancelled.<br />According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture,... China bought about 13 million tons of American soybeans after the two sides agreed to a truce in December,... a move that showed goodwill toward getting the trade dispute resolved.<br />While China pledged to buy an additional 10 million tons,... purchases have now ceased.<br />In addition,... China has yet to take delivery of about seven million tons of the product,... which it committed to buy in the current marketing year.<br />Despite Beijing's latest retaliation,... President Trump says Washington is doing well in trade talks,... adding that China wants to strike a deal.<br /><br />" I think we're doing very well with China, we'll see what happens. But I can tell you China very much wants to make a deal because the companies are leaving China to avoid the tariffs. China is becoming a very weakened nation just as Iran has become a very weakened nation and Iran wants to make a deal also."<br /><br />While it remains to be seen if the two sides will ever strike a deal,... U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he'll likely travel to Beijing "in the near future" to continue negotiations.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.<br />
