Vice Premier He Lifeng voiced serious concerns over new U.S. trade restrictions as both sides agreed to keep consultations going ahead of a planned Xi-Trump summit.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng used a July 30 video call with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to express what Xinhua described as serious concern over recent U.S. economic and trade restrictions on China, including a 12.5% tariff on Chinese imports. The two sides nevertheless described the discussion as candid, in-depth and constructive, and agreed to further use the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism to strengthen communication, build mutual trust, dispel doubts and expand practical cooperation. The exchange also touched on implementing consensus reached by the two countries’ presidents, maintaining stable economic and trade relations and properly addressing each other’s concerns in the next stage. The call came ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned U.S. visit in late September, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said remained on track despite President Donald Trump’s accusation that China had interfered in U.S. elections. It also followed a May agreement under which Beijing committed to address U.S. concerns over rare earth supply chain shortages, ease restrictions related to equipment and processing technologies used to produce those materials, and purchase at least $17 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually through 2028 on top of earlier pledges.