Wilbur Ross, the US commerce secretary, considered a trip to China next month but US officials decided against it as the Asian nation grapples with the coronavirus outbreak, according to people familiar with the matter.
Although Mr Ross had not formally announced or scheduled the visit, it was being considered within the administration to coincide with the bringing into effect, in mid-February, of the “phase one” trade deal which was signed this month by Donald Trump, the US president, and Liu He, China’s vice-premier.
“Secretary Ross is excited to return to China when the timing is right,” a commerce department spokesperson told the Financial Times.