BEIJING — The White House’s surprise decision to move forward with tariffs and other sanctions against China threatens to derail trade talks scheduled for this weekend, according to people with knowledge of the matter on both sides.

A U.S. advance team was scheduled to arrive in Beijing Wednesday afternoon, the people said, ahead of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s planned arrival on Saturday. Members of the U.S. team, consisting of staffers from the Commerce, Treasury, Agriculture and Energy departments and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts to hammer out broad outlines of the talks, they said.

But if the two sides fail to reach accord about issues to be discussed, Ross’s trip could be canceled, the people said.

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White House plans to move ahead with Chinese tariffs could derail weekend trade talks

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