The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly a year later, Mr. Trump continues to keep European allies at arm's length, declining to share details of the draft trade agreement—which he has called "my deal," according to these people, who include officials from several European countries. Some U.S. business leaders say Mr. Trump's unilateral approach doesn't bode well for a long-term solution. "We should be working hand-in-hand with our allies," said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. "This should be an opportunity to collaborate collectively with other industrial nations and if we do not collaborate—it is less likely that any deal reached will be sustained."..Mr. Trump's predecessors backed a broader, multilateral approach. But that practice was largely ineffective in dealing with China, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said at a Congressional hearing recently..The White House stance has some U.S. allies quietly frustrated, since they harbor similar grievances with China, including over its history of forcing companies to enter joint ventures with Chinese partners as a condition for doing business there.

Bloomberg reports that the Trump administration is making "headway" in trade negotiations with China, the top White House economic adviser said Sunday, brushing off reports suggesting diminishing prospects for a deal and push-back from Beijing. "We're making great progress," Larry Kudlow said on "Fox News Sunday," adding that he was "optimistic" President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China would meet to ink a trade pact at some point -- possibly in March or April. Kudlow's comments followed reports that Chinese officials have scrapped a trip to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where there could be a signing ceremony. And earlier this week, Trump said that while he was "confident" about the prospects for an agreement, "if this isn't a great deal, I won't make a deal."