‘Cooperation the best way forward’ as China and US work to end trade war, Chinese official says
- Political advisory body spokesman Guo Weimin says a deal between Beijing and Washington would be ‘good news for the world economy’
- But China is unlikely to meet US demand to scrap all tariffs on agricultural goods, according to analysts
A senior Chinese government official said negotiators from China and the United States were working on the next steps to end their trade war, after Washington demanded Beijing remove all tariffs on American agricultural products.
Guo Weimin, spokesman for China’s political advisory body, on Saturday said a trade deal between the two nations would send a positive signal for the global economy.
Guo was speaking ahead of the opening of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on Sunday. The annual gathering of the largely ceremonial advisory group is being held after the US agreed to suspend a tariff increase on Chinese imports.
“I have asked China to immediately remove all tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork etc) based on the fact that we are moving along nicely with trade discussions,” Trump said on Twitter, noting he had not raised duties on Chinese goods from 10 to 25 per cent on March 1 as planned.