China asks US to allow trade deal to proceed

China demanded Thursday that the United States to stop what it called "discriminatory" measures against Chinese companies, with the aim of clearing a path towards implementing a Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries.

China's assistant commerce minister Ren Hongbin issued the call at a news conference on Beijing.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He are expected to hold talks on Aug. 15 about the bilateral trade agreement that was reached at the beginning of this year.

The relationship between the two countries has deteriorated in the past months over a range of issues including coronavirus, human rights, trade, and Hong Kong.