ZCZC
BCN-40
CHINA-US-ECONOMY-TRADE-TALKS
China welcomes US trade talks offer: commerce ministry
BEIJING, Sept 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – China said Thursday it welcomes a US
offer to hold another round of trade talks, and the two sides are discussing
the details as fresh tariffs loom large.
“The Chinese side believes that the escalation of the trade conflict is
not in the interest of either party,” commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng
told reporters at a regular news briefing.
Beijing “has indeed received an invitation from the US and holds a
welcoming attitude to it”, said Gao, noting the “two sides are still
communicating on the specific details”.
News that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had invited top Chinese
officials for talks comes just under a week after US President Donald Trump
threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion worth of imports from China.
Trump’s first round of tariffs this summer hit $50 billion in Chinese
goods including high-end technology parts and manufactured goods, while
Beijing fired back dollar-for-dollar at US soybeans, autos and other farm
goods.
In Washington, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow sounded a
cautious note about the talks possible outcome.
“Secretary Mnuchin who is the team leader with China has apparently issued
an invitation,” Kudlow told Fox Business Network on Wednesday.
“Talking is better than not talking, so I regard this as a plus,” said
Kudlow.
BSS/AFP/HR/1400