U.S. Trade Representative Tai, China’s Liu Discuss Trade

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He met virtually on Friday to discuss trade issues between the U.S. and China. 

They agreed “that the two sides would consult on certain outstanding issues,” according to a White House account of the meeting. “In addition, Ambassador Tai emphasized U.S. concerns relating to China’s state-led, non-market policies and practices that harm American workers, farmers and businesses.” 

The vice premier Liu took up the issue of U.S. lifting additional tariffs and sanctions on China, according to a statement from the Chinese ministry of commerce on Saturday. Both sides confirmed economic and trade ties between the two nations should be strengthened, and agreed to resolve each other’s reasonable concerns through consultation, the ministry said.

In a strategy outlined by Tai this week, the U.S. plans to engage China over its performance on meeting commitments under their so-called Phase-One trade agreement. That deal, signed in 2020 by the Trump administration, reduces U.S. tariffs on some Chinese goods in exchange for an increase of Chinese purchases of American products, including farming goods. U.S. officials have said Beijing hasn’t lived up to its side of the bargain. 

The U.S. announced this week that President Joe Biden plans to meet virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the year.

The latest talks followed discussions between White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser, Yang Jiechi, in Zurich on Wednesday, which were described by the U.S. as meaningful and substantive. 

Friday’s meeting marks a step forward in the two countries’ relationship, after Sullivan and other U.S. officials sat down with Yang in Alaska earlier this year and publicly traded barbs over human rights issues.

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