BEIJING: China’s commerce ministry on Saturday described tariff, agricultural and aircraft deals agreed during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing as “preliminary”, saying detailed negotiations are still ongoing between Beijing and Washington.
Trump left Beijing on Friday after two days of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The meetings featured pageantry and positive rhetoric but produced limited publicly detailed outcomes on trade and investment agreements.
In a statement, the Chinese ministry said both sides had agreed to establish an investment board and a trade board.
These bodies will negotiate reciprocal, product-specific tariff reductions and broader cuts on selected goods, including agricultural products, the ministry said.
The ministry said both countries had also discussed non-tariff barriers and market access in the agricultural sector.
It said the United States would “actively promote” the resolution of China’s concerns over the automatic detention of dairy and aquatic products, as well as restrictions on bonsai exports grown in specific media, and the recognition of Shandong province as free of avian influenza.
China, in turn, would work to address US concerns over registration procedures for beef facilities and restrictions on poultry exports from certain US states, it added.
The statement is the first official Chinese assessment of trade discussions held during Trump’s visit to Beijing and earlier talks in Seoul.
Trump has said China agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft.
The commerce ministry confirmed understandings on “Chinese purchases of US aircraft and US assurances on the supply of aircraft engines and parts to China”, but provided no further details.
It said discussions on implementation were ongoing and that the agreements would be “finalised as soon as possible”.
