“It was very close and then something mysterious happened. China reneged,” Pillsbury said. “The mystery is the hardliners [in Beijing]. They apparently were not aware of the 150-page deal. They somehow became aware of it in April. Some new players got involved in Beijing and next thing we know their reneging took place.”

Michael Pillsbury, an adviser to US President Donald Trump, was on the guest list – but a source says the charity was divided over whether he should attend

The United States is set to ramp up the pressure on China if a trade