Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
China and US Discuss Tariffs and Farm Trade Before Xi-Trump Meeting
China and the United States held their first trade council meeting by video on Nov.
13.
Officials discussed tariff cuts, agricultural trade and other economic issues, but no agreement was announced.
The council is part of a mechanism for the two countries to address trade concerns and expand cooperation.
After a September summit, the countries proposed a package of reciprocal tariff cuts worth US$60 billion, but it has not been finalised.
China has urged the United States to implement the plan, while Chinese purchases of US farm goods other than soybeans are on track to reach a seven-year low in 2026.
President Donald Trump is due to meet President Xi Jinping on Nov.
19 in Shenzhen, according to the White House, and the council is expected to continue discussions.
China and the United States discussed tariffs and agricultural trade at the first meeting of their trade council on Nov. 13.
The meeting was held by video days before a planned meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Shenzhen.
China’s Commerce Ministry said the talks were candid, in-depth and constructive.
The ministry did not say whether the sides reached any agreements.
The sides said they would continue using the council to address trade concerns and expand cooperation.
- Who
- China and the United States.
- What
- They held their first trade council meeting and discussed tariffs, agricultural trade and other issues.
- When
- Nov. 13, 2026.
- Where
- By video conference.
- Why
- To discuss implementing outcomes of earlier economic and trade talks and address issues of mutual concern.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held a summit in Washington, after which the sides proposed a US$60 billion package of reciprocal tariff cuts.
China and the United States held the first meeting of their trade council by video.
China’s Commerce Ministry reported on the meeting and said the sides would continue using the council.
The White House said Trump would meet Xi on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Shenzhen.
- Meeting date
- Nov. 13, 2026
- Meeting format
- Video conference
- Topics
- Tariffs, a reciprocal US$30 billion-for-US$30 billion tariff-cut arrangement, and agricultural trade
- Proposed tariff-cut package
- US$60 billion
- Planned leaders’ meeting
- Nov. 19 in Shenzhen, according to the White House
4 sources
What people are saying
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