Washington and Beijing are discussing reciprocal tariff (import tax) reductions worth roughly $30 billion per side, focused on non-sensitive goods such as US agricultural and energy exports and Chinese manufacturing inputs. China Commerce Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling said on September 10 that the aim is to implement the reductions "at an early date." The negotiations build on the May 2026 Beijing summit framework and come ahead of a scheduled September 24 meeting in Washington between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, their third in-person dialogue within a year. Bilateral trade exceeded $400 billion during the first eight months of 2026, making the proposed relief equivalent to roughly 7-8% of recorded trade. By excluding semiconductors, electric-vehicle tariffs and technology-transfer disputes, the talks seek progress without directly addressing national-security disagreements. The sides also agreed in May to establish parallel Boards of Trade and Investment for non-sensitive goods and investment issues. Analysts say the summit could indicate how the countries approach the trade truce's November 10, 2026, expiration, while a successful package would create institutional momentum toward renewal.