AsianFin -- The United States has paused new restrictions on technology exports to China in a bid to prevent tensions from derailing ongoing trade negotiations and to support U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to arrange a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, the Financial Times reported Monday.

Citing current and former officials, the report said the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security—which oversees export controls—has been instructed in recent months to hold back on imposing tougher measures targeting China.