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China, US discuss tariffs, farm trade at first trade council meeting

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Bilateral talks addressed economic friction points alongside the potential execution of a reciprocal tariff-cut arrangement totaling sixty billion dollars. Beijing has positioned the implementation of these mutual tariff reductions as an essential step before it increases imports of American agricultural goods. This diplomatic push occurs despite a previous pact requiring China to purchase seventeen billion dollars in United States farm products annually through 2028. Continued council sessions are planned to address these persistent disputes and deepen bilateral economic cooperation.

Key points

  • Beijing has urged Washington to implement reciprocal tariff cuts before it will expand pu…: Beijing has urged Washington to implement reciprocal tariff cuts before it will expand purchases of American agricultural products.
  • Agricultural imports from the United States have declined despite a commitment by China t…: Agricultural imports from the United States have declined despite a commitment by China to buy seventeen billion dollars in farm goods annually through 2028.
  • The newly formed trade council will serve as an ongoing platform to resolve persistent tr…: The newly formed trade council will serve as an ongoing platform to resolve persistent trade disagreements between the two nations.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

China's commerce ministry did not say whether any agreements were reached, only that both sides will continue using the council to address trade concerns, expand cooperation and reduce outstanding issues.

BEIJING: China and the United States discussed tariff cuts, agricultural trade and other issues at their first trade council meeting on Friday (Nov 13), China's Commerce Ministry said on Saturday, days ahead of an expected leaders' meeting in Shenzhen next week.

"The two sides held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on implementing the outcomes of previous China-US economic and trade talks, including tariffs, a reciprocal 'US$30 billion-for-US$30 billion' tariff-cut arrangement, agricultural trade and other issues of mutual concern," the ministry said.

It did not say whether any agreements were reached. Both sides will continue using the council to address trade concerns, expand cooperation and reduce outstanding issues, the ministry added.

Following a September summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Washington, the two sides proposed a US$60 billion package of reciprocal tariff cuts, including roughly US$17 billion worth of US farm goods that China imported in 2024, but…

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