U.S.-China trade deficit figure overestimated by about 20 pct: commerce minister

Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan (C), Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen (R), and Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming attend a press conference on opening up on all fronts and promoting high quality development of commercial business on the sidelines of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Different statistical methods widen U.S. trade deficit with China by around 20 percent, Chinese commerce minister said Sunday.

A joint work group found that the trade deficit number tracked by the United States was overestimated by 21 percent last year, Zhong Shan, the Minister of Commerce told a press conference on the sidelines of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.