China on Saturday said it had agreed with the United States to lower levies on certain products and expand bilateral trade following talks between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said both countries would adopt measures, including mutual tariff reductions on selected goods, to promote trade in sectors such as agriculture. The ministry did not provide details on the products involved and said negotiations on specifics were still ongoing.
The statement followed a two-day summit in Beijing between Trump and Xi, the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade.
China said the discussions showed that both countries “can find solutions to the problems through dialogue and cooperation”. The ministry added that some of the trade terms had earlier been discussed during negotiations in South Korea ahead of the summit.
Trump, however, told reporters aboard Air Force One that tariffs were not discussed directly during his meetings with Xi. “They’re paying substantial tariffs, but we didn’t discuss,” he said.
China also confirmed plans to purchase aircraft from the US without specifying numbers or manufacturers. Trump later said China would buy 200 “big” aircraft, while Boeing reportedly confirmed the agreement. China is also expected to purchase as many as 500 Boeing 737 Max jets.
The ministry further said China would address US concerns over import licences for American beef plants and poultry imports from some states. In return, the US would review Chinese concerns regarding restrictions on dairy products, aquatic goods, and potted plant exports.
Both countries also agreed to establish new investment and trade boards to handle bilateral trade concerns and discuss tariff reductions on non-critical goods.