US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin ridiculed the <a href="Meet Greta Thunberg, the pioneer of climate activism">seventeen-year-old climate activist</a> Greta Thunberg two days after his superior, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greta-thunberg-ought-to-focus-on-other-countries-says-trump-at-davos-275938">US President Donald Trump</a> had engaged in a heated repartee&nbsp;with Thunberg at the World Economic Forum, being held at the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"Is she the chief economist?" Mnuchin quipped. "After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us," he added in response to the activist's call on governments to divest from fossil fuels.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-davos-summit-greta-thunberg-calls-for-real-climate-action-274917">Ahead of Davos summit, Greta Thunberg calls for 'real climate action'</a>

<img alt="Greta Thunberg" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6863a937-e52d-4d46-84ab-4d4709d69dc0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2889%29_0.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Climate activist Greta Thunberg (Courtesy: AFP)

Trump seemed to have made a lazy attempt at adding&nbsp;fuel to the fire before he left Davos when he said he wished he had seen Greta Thunberg speak. Mnuchin emphasized that the stance of the Trump administration on climate has been "misunderstood".

Mnuchin affirmed that "There is a real misinterpretation of the US policy." He stated that "President Trump believes in clean air and clean water and having a clean environment."

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin ridiculed the seventeen-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg two days after his superior, US President Donald Trump had engaged in a heated repartee with Thunberg at the World Economic Forum, being held at the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin ridiculed the seventeen-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg two days after his superior, US President Donald Trump had engaged in a heated repartee with Thunberg at the World Economic Forum, being held at the Swiss ski resort of Davos. "Is she the chief economist?" Mnuchin quipped. "After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us," he added in response to the activist's call on governments to divest from fossil fuels. Also Read: Ahead of Davos summit, Greta Thunberg calls for 'real climate action' [ Climate activist Greta Thunberg (Courtesy: AFP) Trump seemed to have made a lazy attempt at adding fuel to the fire before he left Davos when he said he wished he had seen Greta Thunberg speak. Mnuchin emphasized that the stance of the Trump administration on climate has been "misunderstood". Mnuchin affirmed that "There is a real misinterpretation of the US policy." He stated that "President Trump believes in clean air and clean water and having a clean environment."

US Treasury Secretary asks climate activist Greta Thunberg to get an economics degree

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for serving in his father's "illegitimate regime."

"Maduro relies on his son Nicolasito and others close to his authoritarian regime to maintain a stranglehold on the economy and suppress the people of Venezuela," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the action.

"Treasury will continue to target complicit relatives of illegitimate regime insiders profiting off of Maduro’s corruption," he said.

The action freezes any assets Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra has in the United States and bars American individuals or institutions from doing business with him.

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The latest US action comes as Maduro moves to consolidate his hold on power after a failed coup attempt by opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, is recognised by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's acting president.

In targeting Maduro's son, the Treasury noted that he was a member of the pro-government Constituent Assembly, which Maduro has used to sideline the National Assembly.

It also said that Maduro Guerra "has profited from Venezuelan mines along with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores," and engaged in propaganda and censorship efforts on behalf of his father's government.

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for serving in his father's "illegitimate regime." "Maduro relies on his son Nicolasito and others close to his authoritarian regime to maintain a stranglehold on the economy and suppress the people of Venezuela," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the action.

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for serving in his father's "illegitimate regime." "Maduro relies on his son Nicolasito and others close to his authoritarian regime to maintain a stranglehold on the economy and suppress the people of Venezuela," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the action. "Treasury will continue to target complicit relatives of illegitimate regime insiders profiting off of Maduro’s corruption," he said. The action freezes any assets Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra has in the United States and bars American individuals or institutions from doing business with him. The latest US action comes as Maduro moves to consolidate his hold on power after a failed coup attempt by opposition leader Juan Guaido. Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, is recognised by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's acting president. In targeting Maduro's son, the Treasury noted that he was a member of the pro-government Constituent Assembly, which Maduro has used to sideline the National Assembly. It also said that Maduro Guerra "has profited from Venezuelan mines along with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores," and engaged in propaganda and censorship efforts on behalf of his father's government.

US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan President Maduro's son Nicolasito

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators had "productive meetings", US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet on Friday, as the world's largest economies wound down two days of high-level talks to resolve their bruising trade war.

Mnuchin did not elaborate on the discussions he and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a top economic advisor to President Xi Jinping, who the two US officials met later on Friday in Beijing.

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Productive meetings with China’s Vice Premier Liu He and <a href="https://twitter.com/USTradeRep?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USTradeRep</a> Amb. Lighthizer. <a href="https://t.co/KxOZffFXAa">pic.twitter.com/KxOZffFXAa</a>
— Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevenmnuchin1/status/1096302248324448256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The US delegation had a banquet with Chinese counterparts at a Beijing hotel on Thursday night, a person with knowledge of the meetings said. But neither country had offered details on how the two sides might de-escalate a tariff war that has roiled financial markets and disrupted manufacturing supply chains.

US duties on $200 billion worth of imports from China are scheduled to rise to 25 per cent from 10 per cent if no deal is reached by March 1 to address US demands that China curb forced technology transfers and better enforce intellectual property rights.

Although US President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that an extension of the deadline was possible if a "real deal" was close, Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said the White House had made no such decision.

Several sources informed about the meetings told Reuters there was little indication negotiators had made major progress on sticking points to pave the way for a potential meeting between Xi and Trump in coming weeks to hammer out a deal.

"Stalemate on the important stuff," said one of the sources, all of whom requested anonymity because the talks are confidential.

"There's still a lot of distance between parties on structural and enforcement issues. I wouldn't quite call it hitting a wall, but it's not a field of dreams either," said a second source.

The Financial Times cited sources as saying the two sides were trying to reach a memorandum of understanding to help bring about a leaders meeting.

A third source told Reuters the White House was "irate" over earlier reports that the Trump administration was considering a 60-day extension to the tariff deadline.

Lighthizer and Mnuchin left their Beijing hotel on Friday afternoon without taking questions from reporters.

'Sleigh of hand'

Reuters reported earlier that in recent meetings China has pledged to make its industrial subsidy programs compliant with World Trade Organization rules and end those that distort markets but had offered no details on how it intends to achieve that goal.

The offer has been met with scepticism from US negotiators, in part because China has long refused to disclose its subsidies.

And some in US industry have been unimpressed with the extent of other reported Chinese offers to address US concerns, such as Beijing's proposal to increase purchases of US semiconductors to $200 billion over six years.

John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), told Reuters that the offer would be "akin to an accounting sleight of hand" and "an attempt to rearrange our supply chains and drive them deeper into China".

"We are confident US government negotiators will wisely dismiss this offer and continue pushing for meaningful reforms that create a fair and level playing field for US companies doing business in China," Neuffer said.

The proposal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, was part of a "recycled" package of goods purchase offers that Beijing first presented in the spring of 2018, a source told Reuters on Thursday.

Many US lawmakers and business groups have urged Trump in recent weeks not to settle for an agreement based largely on increased Chinese purchases of farm and energy commodities.

Trump has said he did not expect to meet with Xi before March 1, but White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has raised the possibility of a meeting between the leaders at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida.

China has long denied Washington's accusations of trade abuses, and it has retaliated to US tariffs with its own duties on American goods.

Some trade experts say China appears focused on securing a Xi-Trump meeting, in the hope that it would make a near-term deal to limit or reduce tariffs more likely.

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators had "productive meetings", US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet on Friday, as the world's largest economies wound down two days of high-level talks to resolve their bruising trade war.

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators had "productive meetings", US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet on Friday, as the world's largest economies wound down two days of high-level talks to resolve their bruising trade war. Mnuchin did not elaborate on the discussions he and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a top economic advisor to President Xi Jinping, who the two US officials met later on Friday in Beijing. Productive meetings with China’s Vice Premier Liu He and @USTradeRep Amb. Lighthizer. pic.twitter.com/KxOZffFXAa — Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) February 15, 2019 × The US delegation had a banquet with Chinese counterparts at a Beijing hotel on Thursday night, a person with knowledge of the meetings said. But neither country had offered details on how the two sides might de-escalate a tariff war that has roiled financial markets and disrupted manufacturing supply chains. US duties on $200 billion worth of imports from China are scheduled to rise to 25 per cent from 10 per cent if no deal is reached by March 1 to address US demands that China curb forced technology transfers and better enforce intellectual property rights. Although US President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that an extension of the deadline was possible if a "real deal" was close, Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said the White House had made no such decision. Several sources informed about the meetings told Reuters there was little indication negotiators had made major progress on sticking points to pave the way for a potential meeting between Xi and Trump in coming weeks to hammer out a deal. "Stalemate on the important stuff," said one of the sources, all of whom requested anonymity because the talks are confidential. "There's still a lot of distance between parties on structural and enforcement issues. I wouldn't quite call it hitting a wall, but it's not a field of dreams either," said a second source. The Financial Times cited sources as saying the two sides were trying to reach a memorandum of understanding to help bring about a leaders meeting. A third source told Reuters the White House was "irate" over earlier reports that the Trump administration was considering a 60-day extension to the tariff deadline. Lighthizer and Mnuchin left their Beijing hotel on Friday afternoon without taking questions from reporters. 'Sleigh of hand' Reuters reported earlier that in recent meetings China has pledged to make its industrial subsidy programs compliant with World Trade Organization rules and end those that distort markets but had offered no details on how it intends to achieve that goal. The offer has been met with scepticism from US negotiators, in part because China has long refused to disclose its subsidies. And some in US industry have been unimpressed with the extent of other reported Chinese offers to address US concerns, such as Beijing's proposal to increase purchases of US semiconductors to $200 billion over six years. John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), told Reuters that the offer would be "akin to an accounting sleight of hand" and "an attempt to rearrange our supply chains and drive them deeper into China". "We are confident US government negotiators will wisely dismiss this offer and continue pushing for meaningful reforms that create a fair and level playing field for US companies doing business in China," Neuffer said. The proposal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, was part of a "recycled" package of goods purchase offers that Beijing first presented in the spring of 2018, a source told Reuters on Thursday. Many US lawmakers and business groups have urged Trump in recent weeks not to settle for an agreement based largely on increased Chinese purchases of farm and energy commodities. Trump has said he did not expect to meet with Xi before March 1, but White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has raised the possibility of a meeting between the leaders at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. China has long denied Washington's accusations of trade abuses, and it has retaliated to US tariffs with its own duties on American goods. Some trade experts say China appears focused on securing a Xi-Trump meeting, in the hope that it would make a near-term deal to limit or reduce tariffs more likely.

Had 'productive' trade meetings with China: US Secretary Mnuchin 

US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said he would no longer attend next week’s investment conference in Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration awaited the outcome of investigations into missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Mnuchin announced the decision in a post on Twitter following a meeting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who recently returned from meetings with top leaders in Riyadh and Ankara.

“Just met with @realDonaldTrump and @SecPompeo and we have decided, I will not be participating in the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia,” Mnuchin wrote on Twitter.

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Just met with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecPompeo</a> and we have decided, I will not be participating in the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia.
— Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevenmnuchin1/status/1052944784355205120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Saudis have said they plan to move forward with the conference, scheduled for October&nbsp;23-25, despite a wave of cancellations by high-profile business, government and media leaders.

Mnuchin’s withdrawal comes after top financial, trade and foreign officials from Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands also dropped out.

Trump has urged patience in the wake of US-based Khashoggi’s disappearance earlier this month during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and said he took the matter seriously.

Turkish officials have said they believe Khashoggi - a Washington Post columnist who was a strong critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - was murdered at the consulate and his body chopped up and removed.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said he would no longer attend next week’s investment conference in Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration awaited the outcome of investigations into missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said he would no longer attend next week’s investment conference in Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration awaited the outcome of investigations into missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Mnuchin announced the decision in a post on Twitter following a meeting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who recently returned from meetings with top leaders in Riyadh and Ankara. “Just met with @realDonaldTrump and @SecPompeo and we have decided, I will not be participating in the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia,” Mnuchin wrote on Twitter. Just met with @realDonaldTrump and @SecPompeo and we have decided, I will not be participating in the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia. — Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) October 18, 2018 × The Saudis have said they plan to move forward with the conference, scheduled for October 23-25, despite a wave of cancellations by high-profile business, government and media leaders. Mnuchin’s withdrawal comes after top financial, trade and foreign officials from Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands also dropped out. Trump has urged patience in the wake of US-based Khashoggi’s disappearance earlier this month during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and said he took the matter seriously. Turkish officials have said they believe Khashoggi - a Washington Post columnist who was a strong critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - was murdered at the consulate and his body chopped up and removed.

US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin withdraws from Saudi conference