'Big progress' being made in US-China trade talks

Donald Trump said trade talks with China had been "very productive" over the weekend as his team returned from Beijing and prepared for another round of negotiations.

The US and China had both indicated they were willing to reach a deal or extend talks in order to put an end to their trade war, easing fears the White House would ramp up tariffs when the March 1 deadline arrives in two weeks.

White House representative Sarah Huckabee Sanders named ten officials who travelled to Florida, where the president spent the weekend, or joined in on the Saturday conference call, including US trade representative Robert Lighthizer, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, trade adviser Peter Navarro, economic director Larry Kudlow and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Trump said he had been involved in many "important meetings and calls on China trade deal" and stated "big progress" was being made on "many different fronts".

On Friday, Trump praised the efforts of Mnuchin and Lighthizer in the Beijing negotiations earlier in the week.

Both nations will continue discussions in Washington next week as they work towards a preliminary written agreement.