Chinese commerce officials on Saturday labeled trade agreements reached during President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Beijing as “preliminary” arrangements still requiring finalization.
The U.S. President concluded his two-day stay in China on Friday following discussions with President Xi Jinping that emphasized ceremony and diplomatic language but offered limited concrete details regarding trade and investment outcomes.
According to a commerce ministry website statement, both nations agreed to create an investment board and trade board for negotiating mutual tariff reductions on specific products, along with broader cuts affecting various goods including agricultural items.
Regarding agricultural trade, Beijing indicated both countries would address non-tariff obstacles and market access challenges.
“The U.S. side will actively promote the resolution of China’s long-standing concerns regarding the automatic detention of dairy products and aquatic products, exports of bonsai in growing media to the United States, and recognizing Shandong province as an area free of avian influenza,” the ministry stated.
“The Chinese side will also actively promote the resolution of U.S. concerns regarding registration of beef facilities and exports of poultry meat from some U.S. states to China,” officials added.
The ministry statement lacked specific company names, transaction volumes, monetary values, or completion schedules.
Saturday’s announcement represented China’s initial public assessment of trade discussions conducted this week in Beijing and Seoul, emerging as observers question the concrete achievements of Trump’s first state visit to China in almost ten years.
While Trump announced China’s commitment to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, analysts have raised concerns about the absence of specific timelines.
The commerce ministry acknowledged arrangements regarding “Chinese purchases of U.S. aircraft and U.S. assurances on the supply of aircraft engines and parts to China” without providing additional specifics.
Officials indicated that detailed discussions continue and stated the agreements would be “finalised as soon as possible.”
