World

US, China Schedule Trade Talks For October Amid Tariff Spat: Report

JASON LEE/AFP/Getty Images

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Font Size:

U.S. and Chinese officials reportedly agreed to schedule trade talks in early October amid an escalating tariff war between the two countries.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He agreed to open talks during a phone call, The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing China’s Commerce Ministry.

Preparations for the October meeting set to take place in Washington, D.C., will begin in mid-September, Chinese and U.S. officials confirmed, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Plans to resume talks came just after the U.S. introduced a 15% tariff on Chinese imports valued at $111 billion in 2018 including tools, apparel, footwear and electronics Sept. 1, reported TheWSJ.

China imposed its own increased tariffs on $75 billion of American products, according to The New York Times.

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2019 shows a cargo ship berthing at a port in Lianyungang in China's eastern Jiangsu province. - (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2019 shows a cargo ship berthing at a port in Lianyungang in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. – (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

“Starting on October 1st, the [$]250 BILLION of goods and products from China, currently being taxed at 25%, will be taxed at 30%,” the president announced Aug. 23.

Both countries plan to further increase tariffs in December unless trade talks impact that outcome. (RELATED: The Threat From China Means Conservatives Must Rethink Industrial Policy)

China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson also urged the U.S. to ease its crackdown on Chinese tech giant Huawei during a Thursday press conference, TheWSJ reported.

Trump signed an executive order to ban U.S. Huawei sales in May due to national security concerns after the Department of Justice charged the company for bank fraud, wire fraud and violating Iran sanctions. Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei said the blacklisting move would cost the company $30 billion in revenue.

The president hinted at easing sanctions against Huawei in late June at the G-20 summit when he said “U.S. companies can sell their equipment to Huawei” in an attempt to ease trade tension between the U.S. and China.

The White House and Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.