China believes US-China trade negotiations should be equal and mutually beneficial

BEIJING (Reuters) – Trade talks between the United States and China should be equal and mutually beneficial, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said on Friday, adding that he hoped the two countries would find the best deal. way of managing their differences through dialogue.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to hold talks at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires next week, as trade relations between the two largest economies in the world are growing more and more.

At a press conference in Beijing, Mr. Wang said that he hoped that both sides could go in the same direction and find ways to solve their problems. Officials in both countries are in close contact under the guidance of their leaders, he added.

Washington wants Beijing to improve market access and intellectual property protection for US companies, eliminate industry subsidies, and reduce the $ 375 billion trade deficit. Trump has imposed tariffs of $ 250 billion on Chinese imports to force concessions.

The US tariff rate of $ 200 billion on Chinese products is expected to increase from 10% to 10% on January 1, from 10% to 25%. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports – an estimated $ 267 billion – if Beijing does not respond to the United States. requests.

Trump said Thursday that he hoped to reach an agreement with China when he would meet Xi.

"I can say that, China very badly wants to reach an agreement – because of tariffs," Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida.

"China wants to make a deal. if we can reach an agreement, we will do it, "he said.

The meeting with important issues comes as the Trump administration shows no sign of declining requirements and rhetoric.

Washington said Tuesday that China has failed to change its "unfair" practices at the heart of the US-China trade dispute, in an update of the US Trade Representative's "Section 301" investigation. on intellectual property and technology transfer policies of China.

China has rejected new US accusations of perpetuating "unfair" business practices and has asked Washington to stop provoking.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that he was deeply concerned about the report released this week by the US administration.

Citing security concerns, the US government also proposed Monday to strengthen technology export controls in 14 cutting-edge high-tech fields, including artificial intelligence and microprocessor technology, a decision that many of them have made. 39 analysts consider directly as China.

A 30-day public comment period on the proposal to include these sectors in its broader export control regime is ongoing and will end on December 19, according to a document published on the US Government's Federal Register.