Revised negative list under discussion

Derek Scissors, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, believes there is no chance of the investment treaty being passed by the US Congress during Obama's remaining months in office.

Most experts believe the top priority for the US government is to make a last-ditch effort to push Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries that does not include China.

Scissors said the environment in the US is now very protectionist, and the immediate priority for the next administration will be domestic issues, rather than any international agenda.

Many in China hope the investment treaty will provide better protection for increased Chinese investment in the US.

Zhong Nan in Beijing contributed to this story.