Chinese officials say they have doubts if trade deal possible with Trump: Report

Chinese officials have doubts about whether it is possible to reach a comprehensive long-term trade deal with Washington and United States President Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Chinese officials have told visitors to Beijing and others in private conversations that China will not budge on the thorniest issues, the report said.

Chinese officials are also concerned about Trump's impulsive nature and the risk that he could back out of even the interim deal both sides are seeking to sign in the coming weeks, Bloomberg said.

The United States and Chinese officials were "close to finalising" some parts of a trade agreement after high-level telephone discussions on Friday, the US Trade Representative's office said, adding that deputy-level talks would proceed "continuously."

"They made headway on specific issues and the two sides are close to finalizing some sections of the agreement. Discussions will go on continuously at the deputy level, and the principals will have another call in the near future," a statement said.

Washington and Beijing are working to agree on the text for a "Phase 1" trade agreement announced by US President Donald Trump on October 11. Trump has said he hopes to sign the deal with China's President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile.