The week-long trade talks in Beijing between top-level representatives of China and the US ended on Friday without any agreement. Negotiations are to continue in Washington next week.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that, the next round will be virtually the last chance to reach a formal agreement before a March 1 deadline after which the US will increase tariffs—from 10 to 25 percent—on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Even if a deal is reached it will not take the form of a detailed document. According to a statement issued by the White House, “United States and Chinese officials have agreed that any commitments will be stated in a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries.”

The statement said detailed and intense discussions had led to “progress” but “much work remains.”

If an MOU is reached, along the lines of those established between the US and the European Union and the US and Japan, the drawing up of a final agreement would take place with existing US tariffs remaining in place. Thus the threat will remain that further measures would be imposed if the detailed discussions broke down.

While the trade negotiations were taking place this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was lobbying Eastern European countries to exclude Huawei from participation in the establishment of 5G mobile phone networks.

The US has already secured the exclusion of Huawei from countries in the so-called Five Eyes intelligence group—the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and New Zealand—and wants the ban extended to all its allies.

In addition, the Trump administration reportedly has under consideration an executive order that would ban Chinese telecom companies from operating in the US on “national security” grounds. It would give greater authority to the Commerce Department to review purchases of products by companies connected to what are deemed “adversarial” countries.