China, US discuss tariffs, farm trade ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

• China and the US held their first trade council meeting on 13 November. They discussed tariff cuts, farm trade and other issues before a Xi-Trump meeting in Shenzhen.
• China said talks were “candid, in-depth and constructive”, but gave no sign of any deal. Both sides will keep using the council to ease trade tensions and solve disputes.
• A proposed US$60 billion tariff-cut plan is still not finalised. China says Washington must implement it first, while US farm imports from China may stay weak despite buy pledges.

BEIJING – China and the United States discussed tariff cuts, agricultural trade and other issues at their first trade council meeting on Nov 13, China’s Commerce Ministry said on Nov 14, days ahead of an expected leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen later in November.

“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 (S$38.6 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 the plan has yet to be finalised.

Chinese purchases of US farm goods other than soybeans are on track to hit a seven-year low in 2026, despite an agreement to buy US$17 billion annually through 2028, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed earlier in November, underscoring persistent uncertainty over the deal.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to implement the US$60 billion tariff-reduction deal, calling it a prerequisite for increasing purchases of US farm goods.

The White House said Trump will meet Xi on Nov 19 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen. REUTERS