China's top economic advisor Vice Premier Liu He is expected to visit Washington soon for trade talks. But it's still unclear when that will. On Monday, the White House said he would come next week. But on Friday, the commerce secretary told a U.S. TV network there's a chance the meeting may not be held next week. Meanwhile, U.S. officials met with Chinese counterparts in Washington on Friday to work out details of the meeting for when it does happen. No word yet on the outcome of those talks. Jim Spellman in Washington tells us what's at stake when the talks do eventually resume.

The US and China are hoping to strike a deal and avoid a trade war. During last week's high level talks in Beijing, the US side demanded a 200-billion-dollar cut in the US trade deficit with China.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "My group just got back from China. We're going to have to rework trade with China because that's been a one way street for decades and we just can't have it happen."

The U.S. says the 2017 trade deficit in goods with China was more than 375 billion dollars. China's Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai says the trade relationship between the two largest economies is about much more than just the trade deficit.

CUI TIANKAI CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO US "First, it would be too simplistic to say that trade deficit would mean loss, trade surplus would mean gains. I think the real situation is more complicated. And you have to look at the whole supply value chain and international division of labor. But still too much imbalance in trade, huge deficit for you and huge surplus for us, I don't think this should continue."

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on a total of 150 billion dollars' worth of Chinese goods. Next week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will hold three days of public hearings on the proposed tariffs. About 130 businesses and trade groups are expected to testify. Most oppose the tariffs and don't want to see this trade conflict escalate. Many analysts say the tariffs will hurt the U.S., China and many other economies around the world.

DAN IKENSON CATO INSTITUTE "There will be a huge reverberation around the globe and in the United States. The cost of manufacturing will rise, because imported components will be more expensive, that means profits will be lower."

JIM SPELLMAN WASHINGTON "The influential U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a private group that advocates for U.S. business interests, has released a statement ahead of next week's hearings saying, in part, 'tariffs are not the answer'. An initial round of tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods can go into effect any time after May 22nd. Jim Spellman, CGTN, Washington."