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

Detailed summary

China and the United States held their first trade council meeting on Friday, engaging in "candid, in-depth and constructive" discussions, the Ministry of Commerce said on…

China and the United States held their first trade council meeting on Friday, engaging in "candid, in-depth and constructive" discussions, the Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday.

Held via video link under the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, the meeting focused on implementing the outcomes of previous talks in line with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the ministry said in a statement.

The discussions covered tariffs, a reciprocal tariff reduction arrangement involving $30 billion worth of goods from each side, agricultural trade and other issues of respective concern.

Beijing and Washington will continue to strengthen communication through the council and work to address their respective economic and trade concerns, while expanding the list of cooperation and shortening the list of problems, the ministry said.

These efforts will help build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, it added.

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