Trump, Xi send positive signals on initial deal to defuse U.S.-China trade war

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leaders of the United States and China on Friday both underscored their desire to sign an initial trade deal and defuse a 16-month tariff war that has lowered global growth, providing a welcome boost to financial markets.Chinese President Xi Jinping, in rare comments on the trade tensions with Washington, said Beijing wants to work out an interim or 'phase one' trade pact, but is not afraid to retaliate when necessary.Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump..