FILE PHOTO: U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer listens as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 16, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It may be possible to avert the next round of tariffs on Chinese imports set to be imposed on Sunday, Republican U.S. Senator John Hoeven said on Thursday following a lunch with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Hoeven, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters after the meeting that Lighthizer appeared upbeat about the prospects for reaching a trade deal with China.