Before this week's visit to China for negotiations U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in an interview with the media that the main focus of this week’s trade negotiations in China is to resolve issues such as trade imbalances, technology transfer, and access to foreign companies’ markets. He hopes to hold frank discussions with China on trade matters and to open more Chinese markets to U.S. businesses. He has repeatedly disclosed that he is "cautiously optimistic about negotiating with China" and believes that progress will be made.