All Kinds Of Progress Being Made Towards Meaningless ‘Phase One’ Non-Deal, US, China Jointly Declare

In case US equities needed an excuse to extend gains on a Friday when stocks were already riding high following a better-than-expected jobs report, the USTR and Beijing jointly announced progress after yet another principal-level trade call. "The US and China had constructive trade talks today", the USTR said, adding that progress was made "in a variety of areas". The chat - between Bob Lighthizer, Steve Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He - comes amid concerns that Beijing sees no real pa