forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, agriculture, and enforcement

The Chinese delegation also includes Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, central bank governor Yi Gang, and the National Development and Reform Commission's deputy head Ning Jizhe, according to a brief ministry statement.

Topics of discussion for the high-level talks will include "forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, agriculture, and enforcement", according to the White House statement.

Prior to the principal-level talks, the two sides conducted deputy-level talks over the past weeks, with the latest meeting taking place in Washington on Monday.

The Liu-Lighthizer meeting comes after a hiatus of about two months following one in Shanghai late July.

Trump sounded a generally upbeat tone about the upcoming talks.

"As to whether or not we make a deal, I don't know. But there's certainly a good possibility," he said at signing of the US-Japan Trade Agreement and the US-Japan Digital Trade Agreement on Monday afternoon.

"We think there's a chance we could do something very substantial," Trump said. "I would much prefer a big deal and I think that's what we're shooting for."