The United States and China launch a critical round of trade talks on Wednesday amid deep differences over Washington’s demands for structural economic reforms from Beijing that will make it difficult to reach a deal before a March 2 U.S. tariff hike. SEE MORE China’s domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price weakened on Thursday January 24 after some suppliers sold at lower levels to boost cash flow ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, while the battery-grade lithium hydroxide price in China and those in the rest of the world were unchanged. SEE MORE Oil prices fell on Monday after U.S. energy firms added rigs for the first time this year in a sign that crude production there will rise further. SEE MORE Any further increase in trade tensions between the United States and China could take a heavy toll on trade growth in Latin American and Caribbean countries, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected in a new report on Friday. SEE MORE China's industrial earnings continue to moderate amid weak international demand, slower factory activity, and disruptions in international trade. SEE MORE