KARACHI:

A trade slugfest between the world's two largest economies appears to have paused. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met last week at South Korea's Busan airfield in a bid to dial back trade frictions and duelling export controls stemming from Trump's protectionist sabre-rattling.

The US president said they have agreed on "almost everything" and that a formal trade deal could be signed "pretty soon." Xi also hailed the "consensus" evolved on resolving "important economic and trade issues", calling for both sides to "refine and finalise follow-up work as soon as possible," uphold the agreement, and deliver tangible results.

Coming ahead of the 32nd APEC summit in Gyeongju, it was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump's re-ele

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