The president, who has been eager to cut a deal with Beijing, said the negotiators had forged a compromise on key issues.
WASHINGTON — President Trump delayed his own deadline to increase tariffs on Chinese goods on Sunday as his administration continues a monthslong effort to persuade Beijing to make significant structural changes to its economy that have so far proved elusive.
Mr. Trump, in a tweet on Sunday, said he would delay a Friday deadline to increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, citing “substantial progress” during a week of trade talks in Washington between American and Chinese officials.
The president, who has been eager to cut a deal with Beijing, said the United States and China had forged a compromise on key issues, including China’s requirement that American companies hand over valuable intellectual property and technology as a condition of doing business in China, as well as more purchases of American agriculture products.
But in a sign of how fluid the talks remain, the two sides did not sign an official agreement and Mr. Trump said he hoped to sign a final deal in person in a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, most likely in March.
“As a result of these very productive talks, I will be delaying the U. S. increase in tariffs now scheduled for March 1,” Mr. Trump wrote. “Assuming both sides make additional progress, we will be planning a Summit for President Xi and myself, at Mar-a-Lago, to conclude an agreement. A very good weekend for U. S. & China!”
The extension will prevent the United States from increasing tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese exports to 25 percent from 10 percent on March 2. It is likely to calm volatile financial markets and reassure business owners who depend on China both for components and as a market for finished goods.
But while some analysts said Mr. Trump’s advisers appeared likely to secure greater concessions than past administrations have been able to achieve, others remain skeptical about the ability of the United States to significantly transform the economic relationship with China.
The agreement to keep talking and pause tariff increases followed days of negotiations in which American and Chinese officials met in board rooms near the White House to work line-by-line through a handful of documents covering intellectual property, services and subsidies.
