US-China trade deficit figure overestimated by about 20 pct: commerce minister

BEIJING -- Different statistical methods widen US 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.