BEIJING, Sept 28 — China and the United States (US) have agreed to cut tariffs imposed on $60 billion (RM245 billion) worth of goods imported from each other, on an array of products ranging from US corn to cosmetics, and from Chinese household appliances to toys.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that under the US-China Board of Trade, both countries have each recommended US$30 billion (RM122.5 billion) of trade in non-sensitive goods for more favourable tariff treatment.
In a statement on Sunday, he added that for the US, that was "unlocking improved market access" for about 30 per cent of US exports to China.
The reciprocal tariff reduction as well as an extension of a trade truce were among the key takeaways from the second summit this year between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, hosted in Washington last week.
One of two lists from the White House showed that China planned to trim duties on a variety of US agricultural goods including corn, wheat, sorghum, meat, dairy, vegetable oils, and meals. It did not include soybeans.
Beijing will also look to reduce levies on US fish and seafood, logs and wood products, cosmetics, and medical devices.
Another list included Washington's reciprocal tariff cuts for Chinese small appliances such as coffee makers and toasters, tableware, blankets, and bed linens.
The lists also included toys, fireworks, artificial flowers, Christmas tree lamps and other holiday decorations, and children’s car seats.
Longer trade truce
Earlier today, China's Commerce Ministry said a two-month extension of a trade truce with the US through January 10, 2027, would give both sides room to evaluate their ongoing arrangement to resolve economic and trade issues, while considering how to advance on those fronts.
The extension also provides a "relatively stable and predictable policy environment" for cooperation among companies and continued active discussions.
It added that both sides will hold regular talks on potential investment opportunities and barriers, enhancing policy transparency and predictability, and responding to enterprises' concerns.
Stocks fell sharply in China today, with investors having few concrete details to cheer from the leaders' summit and underlying tensions resurfacing. Technology stocks fell on a bipartisan US push to ban Chinese components from data centres and the benchmark blue-chip index slid more than two per cent to a one-year low.
Agriculture and coal
China's choice of products for tariff cuts looks designed to help Beijing meet what the White House says is a US$17 billion (RM69.44 billion) commitment to buy agricultural goods. China has already resumed large-scale buying of US soybeans under a deal struck last year to buy 25 million metric tons annually.
The Commerce Ministry said that both countries will set up an agriculture working group under a trade council, which will hold its first meeting before the year ends to discuss two-way market access and regulation.
Meanwhile, the White House release showed that the presidential summit also yielded an agreement for China to import 10 million metric tons of coal annually from the US in 2027 and 2028. That amount roughly equals two per cent of China's annual coal imports.
Liquefied natural gas and oil were not on the list.
"Importing US coal is not only a beneficial supplement to China's domestic coal market, but also brings stable economic income and employment to the US coal industry," the Chinese Commerce Ministry said.
AI, financial firms and direct flights
On artificial intelligence, both sides have agreed on a communication channel for incidents and will hold a follow-up dialogue by the end of November.
China will also examine and approve foreign financial services institutions, including those with US capital, to conduct business and open branches in China.
The ministry noted that it will continue discussions on increasing flights between China and the US.
