Trade War starting to bite in china- manufacturing PMI way down and exports down.
GV has said that if the trade war abates then China will sign. This is a clear statement. So there will be no more excuses left for him to explain zero progress.
If there is a big swing against the Republicans in key farming and manufacturing states, Trumps base, then you may seen more impetus on him to do a deal. China may also be thinking that the mid terms may be some sort of inflection point and that they would wait to see what happens before dealing- but the president has broad powers re trade and so a deadlocked Congress hardly something that will force Trump to change track.
A long protracted trade war with racheting up of tariffs will not be good for anyone- and a big LNG deal announced to break the war surely will be a good press win for Trump.