Washington: After months of discussions on a new COVID-19 relief package aimed at assisting American businesses and workers affected by the pandemic, top US negotiators appeared to have made a little progress, but still no breakthrough as key differences remained.
The development comes after a 45-minute call on Tuesday between Speaker of the Democrat-led House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Read:|House passes bill to reverse changes blamed for mail delays
The Speaker and Mnuchin are slated to speak again on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Pelosi had said that the White House and Congressional lawmakers must reach an agreement in the next 48 hours if they want to pass a new relief package before the November 3 presidential election.
Of the remaining difference, the Speaker has singled out two: additional funding for state and local governments, sought by Democrats; and liability language, demanded by Republicans, to protect businesses and schools from lawsuits if workers and students contract the virus, reports The Hill news website.
Meanwhile, the Republican-majority Senate will vote on a $500 billion coronavirus relief bill on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced.