China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend.

The United States is due to impose tariffs on almost $160 billion of Chinese imports such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nintendo-to-officially-launch-its-switch-gaming-console-in-china-266103">video game consoles</a>, computer monitors and toys on Sunday.

US&nbsp;President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-criticism-trump-signs-order-targeting-anti-semitism-at-universities-267765"> Donald Trump</a> is expected to meet top trade advisers on Thursday to discuss the move, sources told Reuters previously.

A decision to proceed with the levies could roil financial markets and scuttle <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-china-trade-talks-free-trade-must-not-be-derailed-198923">US-China talks</a> to end the 17-month-long trade war between the world's two largest economies.

"The two sides' economic and trade teams are maintaining close communication," Gao Feng, a spokesman at the Chinese commerce ministry, told reporters at a regular briefing.

The countries agreed in October to conclude a preliminary trade agreement, but talks have failed to produce deals on agricultural purchases by China and rollbacks of existing tariffs imposed by the United States. Many analysts had expected a deal ahead of December&nbsp;15.

Beijing has said it would retaliate if the United States escalates the trade dispute.

In August, China said it would impose 5 per cent&nbsp;and 10&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in additional tariffs on $75 billion of US&nbsp;goods in two batches. Tariffs on the first batch kicked in on September&nbsp;1, hitting US&nbsp;goods including soybeans, pork, beef, chemicals, and crude oil.

The tariffs on the second batch of products are due to be activated on December&nbsp;15, affecting goods ranging from corn and wheat to small aircraft and rare earth magnets.

China also said at the time that it will reinstitute on December&nbsp;15 an additional 25&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;tariff on US-made vehicles and 5&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;tariffs on auto parts that had been suspended at the beginning of 2019.

China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend.

China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend. The United States is due to impose tariffs on almost $160 billion of Chinese imports such as video game consoles, computer monitors and toys on Sunday. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet top trade advisers on Thursday to discuss the move, sources told Reuters previously. A decision to proceed with the levies could roil financial markets and scuttle US-China talks to end the 17-month-long trade war between the world's two largest economies. "The two sides' economic and trade teams are maintaining close communication," Gao Feng, a spokesman at the Chinese commerce ministry, told reporters at a regular briefing. The countries agreed in October to conclude a preliminary trade agreement, but talks have failed to produce deals on agricultural purchases by China and rollbacks of existing tariffs imposed by the United States. Many analysts had expected a deal ahead of December 15. Beijing has said it would retaliate if the United States escalates the trade dispute. In August, China said it would impose 5 per cent and 10 per cent in additional tariffs on $75 billion of US goods in two batches. Tariffs on the first batch kicked in on September 1, hitting US goods including soybeans, pork, beef, chemicals, and crude oil. The tariffs on the second batch of products are due to be activated on December 15, affecting goods ranging from corn and wheat to small aircraft and rare earth magnets. China also said at the time that it will reinstitute on December 15 an additional 25 per cent tariff on US-made vehicles and 5 per cent tariffs on auto parts that had been suspended at the beginning of 2019.

China says in close communication with US on trade as fresh tariffs loom

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X - billing it as the most powerful video console ever made, and escalating a battle with market king PlayStation.

The $499 product was built with the muscle for seamless play on ultra-high definition 4K televisions and will be available worldwide on November 7, according to Xbox team leader Phil Spencer.

He introduced the much-anticipated Xbox One X, called Scorpio during development, at a Microsoft event ahead of the official opening of the major Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

Aiming at the hearts of gamers, Microsoft also showed off 42 coming games, with 22 titles&nbsp;being tailored for exclusive play on Xbox One consoles.
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Independent publishers tend to make blockbuster titles available for play on Xbox, PlayStation and personal computer hardware in an effort to sell creations to as broad an audience as possible.

Keenly-anticipated new games shown off here include a new installment of &quot;Assassin&#39;s Creed&quot; from France-based Ubisoft, intended to reboot the long-running franchise by taking players back to the &quot;origins&quot; of the storyline in ancient Egypt.

Game play on 4K screens, whether they be televisions or personal computer monitors, is expected to be among themes at E3 this week. Enabling ultra-rich visuals also tunes into the budding trend toward virtual reality games.

Switch supplies tight

Sony PlayStation 4 has dominated the latest generation of consoles, outselling Xbox One by 2-to-1, according to industry trackers.

PS4 consoles from the outset could power virtual reality, and Sony sells head gear for those experiences.

PlayStation has also become the prime driver of revenue and profit at Japan-based entertainment giant Sony, according to executives.

&ldquo;We are selling every single one we can make,&rdquo; Sony Interactive Entertainment worldwide studios chairman Shawn Layden said of PS4.

Nintendo&#39;s recently-launched Switch has been a winner, with fans snapping up the console and a &quot;Legend of Zelda&quot; game that has become a must-play title for fans.

Demand for Switch consoles has been so intense since its launch early this year that the consoles are tough to find in stores and Nintendo has reportedly doubled production.

Switch launched at the start of March and some 2.74 million were sold by the end of that month, according to Nintendo.

Hot Switch sales also boosted shares of the Japanese company, which ran into a tough patch after it failed to build on the popularity of the first generation of Wii consoles.

PS4 and Xbox One are both performing better in the market that their respective predecessors, and Nintendo &ldquo;is back in a big way&rdquo; with Switch, according to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella.

Sony has sold close to 60 million PS4 consoles and will reveal its latest innovations and offerings at a press event on Monday, according to executives.

&quot;We are in the 4K world already,&quot; Layden told AFP. &quot;That is what the future of gaming is going to look like.&quot;

Old games made new

Microsoft is also courting players by working to make more popular games from earlier Xbox console versions playable on its latest hardware.

Microsoft also just launched a subscription service for Xbox, letting players pay a monthly fee for access to a videogames library for its console.

Sony makes a library of videogames available as part of a subscription service for PlayStation consoles.

(AFP)

Microsoft also shows off 42 coming games, with 22 titles being tailored for exclusive play on Xbox One consoles

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X - billing it as the most powerful video console ever made, and escalating a battle with market king PlayStation. The $499 product was built with the muscle for seamless play on ultra-high definition 4K televisions and will be available worldwide on November 7, according to Xbox team leader Phil Spencer. He introduced the much-anticipated Xbox One X, called Scorpio during development, at a Microsoft event ahead of the official opening of the major Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Aiming at the hearts of gamers, Microsoft also showed off 42 coming games, with 22 titles being tailored for exclusive play on Xbox One consoles. Independent publishers tend to make blockbuster titles available for play on Xbox, PlayStation and personal computer hardware in an effort to sell creations to as broad an audience as possible. Keenly-anticipated new games shown off here include a new installment of "Assassin's Creed" from France-based Ubisoft, intended to reboot the long-running franchise by taking players back to the "origins" of the storyline in ancient Egypt. Game play on 4K screens, whether they be televisions or personal computer monitors, is expected to be among themes at E3 this week. Enabling ultra-rich visuals also tunes into the budding trend toward virtual reality games. Switch supplies tight Sony PlayStation 4 has dominated the latest generation of consoles, outselling Xbox One by 2-to-1, according to industry trackers. PS4 consoles from the outset could power virtual reality, and Sony sells head gear for those experiences. PlayStation has also become the prime driver of revenue and profit at Japan-based entertainment giant Sony, according to executives. “We are selling every single one we can make,” Sony Interactive Entertainment worldwide studios chairman Shawn Layden said of PS4. Nintendo's recently-launched Switch has been a winner, with fans snapping up the console and a "Legend of Zelda" game that has become a must-play title for fans. Demand for Switch consoles has been so intense since its launch early this year that the consoles are tough to find in stores and Nintendo has reportedly doubled production. Switch launched at the start of March and some 2.74 million were sold by the end of that month, according to Nintendo. Hot Switch sales also boosted shares of the Japanese company, which ran into a tough patch after it failed to build on the popularity of the first generation of Wii consoles. PS4 and Xbox One are both performing better in the market that their respective predecessors, and Nintendo “is back in a big way” with Switch, according to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella. Sony has sold close to 60 million PS4 consoles and will reveal its latest innovations and offerings at a press event on Monday, according to executives. "We are in the 4K world already," Layden told AFP. "That is what the future of gaming is going to look like." Old games made new Microsoft is also courting players by working to make more popular games from earlier Xbox console versions playable on its latest hardware. Microsoft also just launched a subscription service for Xbox, letting players pay a monthly fee for access to a videogames library for its console. Sony makes a library of videogames available as part of a subscription service for PlayStation consoles. (AFP)

Xbox One X: Microsoft unveils new video game console; to go on sale from November 7

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China says in close communication with US on trade as fresh tariffs loom

Xbox One X: Microsoft unveils new video game console; to go on sale from November 7