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China says has begun purchase of more US farm goods
BEIJING, Aug 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – China said Thursday that it had begun
purchasing more US farm goods after the two economic giants restarted thorny
trade talks with face-to-face negotiations in Shanghai this week.
Chinese enterprises started approaching US suppliers in mid-July to
discuss buying agricultural goods including soybeans, cotton, pork and
sorghum, commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a regular press
briefing.
Companies “have already purchased some agricultural products,” he added.
Beijing and Washington representatives met this week in Shanghai to
discuss the tense trade war between the two economies which has seen both
sides hit each other with punitive tariffs covering more than $360 billion in
two-way trade.
Talks broke down in May after Trump accused Beijing of reneging on its
commitments, but the US leader and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed
to a truce in June.
US President Donald Trump this week said China was supposed to start
buying American agricultural goods but had shown “no signs that they are
doing so”.
Officials at this week’s meeting in Shanghai discussed why the earlier
negotiations had broken down and made plans for future talks, Gao told
reporters.
“This round of consultations was frank, efficient and constructive,” he
said.
Both sides “will hold intensive consultations in August to properly
prepare for the face-to-face meetings of the leaders of the consultations in
September,” Gao added.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1522 hrs