China’s Ministry of Commerce said
Saturday (16.05.2026) that the countries had struck a preliminary agreement to
reduce some tariffs, seemingly contradicting statements by President Trump
1.
China
said the United States and China discussed tariff issues during President
Donald Trump’s recent visit to China.
2.
The
statement appeared to contradict President Trump’s earlier remarks that tariffs
were “not discussed” during the summit.
3.
China’s
Ministry of Commerce said both sides agreed in principle to reduce tariffs on
selected products of concern to each country.
4.
The
proposed tariff reductions will be discussed through a newly planned bilateral
trade board.
5.
China
and the US also agreed to establish separate boards for trade and investment
issues.
6.
U.S.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed plans for a trade board
overseeing tariff cuts on goods worth about $30 billion on each side.
7.
Both
countries agreed to continue resolving agricultural trade issues.
8.
China
raised concerns regarding US treatment of bonsai trees, dairy products, aquatic
products, and recognition of Shandong province as bird flu-free.
9.
China
said it would work to address American concerns related to beef and poultry
exports from certain US states.
10. The two sides also reached a preliminary
agreement for China to purchase aircraft, aircraft engines, and parts from the
United States.
11. China described the agreements reached
during the visit as “preliminary,” with details still under negotiation.
12. President Donald Trump told reporters
aboard Air Force One that tariffs were not discussed during the talks.
13. Mr. Trump stated, “They’re paying
substantial tariffs, but we didn’t discuss.”
14. When asked why tariffs were not discussed,
Mr. Trump replied that the issue “wasn’t brought up.”
15. The differing statements from Washington
and Beijing created uncertainty regarding the actual progress made on tariff
negotiations during the summit.
The
Chinese government indicated on Saturday (16.05.2026) that the United States and
China had discussed the issue of tariffs during President Trump’s visit to the country
this past week, seemingly contradicting statements a day earlier by Mr. Trump, who
said that tariffs were not discussed.
A
spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a briefing on Saturday that
the countries had agreed in principle to reduce tariffs on a set pool of products
that were “of concern to each side.”
It
said that the countries had agreed to set up separate boards for trade and investment
issues, and that the tariff reductions would be discussed through the trade board.
It
added that both sides had agreed to push forward with resolving issues in agricultural
trade, including China’s concerns about American treatment of bonsai trees, dairy
and aquatic products, and the recognition of Shandong province as an area free of
bird flu. China would work to resolve U.S. concerns about beef and poultry exports
from certain states, it said.
The
sides also reached an agreement for China to buy aircraft and aircraft engines
and parts from the United States. The commerce ministry said that the agreements
were “preliminary” and that the two sides were still negotiating details.
U.S.
officials had previously talked about the boards of trade and investment. On Friday,
Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, confirmed that the two sides would
set up a board of trade that would oversee tariff cuts in $30 billion of goods on
each side.
Mr.
Trump and other officials had also noted progress in agricultural trade and sales
of airplanes.
But
speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Mr. Trump had sown confusion by
claiming that the two sides did not discuss U.S. tariffs on imports from China,
a key issue going into the summit.
“We
didn’t discuss tariffs,” Mr. Trump said. “They’re paying substantial tariffs, but
we didn’t discuss.”
When
asked why, the president responded, “It wasn’t brought up.”