Such a deal could include agreements on 'easy items' such as China buying more U.S. agriculture products, says Blackstone Executive Vice Chairman Tony James.
agriculture products, but leaving out major sticking points such as intellectual property protection, according to James.
"I wouldn't underestimate the importance of getting the easy items agreed," he told CNBC's Nancy Hungerford at the. Even a small deal would send the message that both countries are willing to talk, which would help business confidence, he went on to say. I'm still optimistic, but less optimistic ... I suspect now it'll be smaller than what I was anticipating last year, and less certain."More importantly, though, if there's no trade deal, there's no basis for continuing discussion between the countries, there's no commonality of interests. And I worry at that point it could spiral out of control to become much more hostile, much more adversarial and ultimately cold war-ish," he added.
"I'm still optimistic, but less optimistic," he said, adding that it's in the two countries' and leaders' interests — for both economic and political reasons — to get some kind of a deal. But, "I suspect now it'll be smaller than what I was anticipating last year, and less certain, for sure. So, yes, optimism that something will happen, but it will be more modest," he said.
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