Beijing - US and Chinese negotiators broke up their talks on China's attempt to join the World Trade Organisation yesterday, but both sides remained tight-lipped about whether discussions had reached a dead end. The US Trade Representative, Ms Charlene Barshefsky, met her Chinese counterpart for about one hour and 20 minutes.
They talked for at least six hours on Wednesday and early yesterday morning, amid speculation a deal could be near. But US officials said some of the earlier optimism appeared to have receded.
