As close communications between the U.S. and China continue, China is making clear it wants tariffs lowered as part of any Phase 1 trade deal. "The Chinese side believes that if the two sides reach a Phase 1 deal, tariffs should be lowered accordingly," Commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters.
In Washington, China’s Ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai, said the two sides are trying to resolve their differences over trade, but warned some are trying to undermine those efforts.
"At the same time, we must be alert that some destructive forces are taking advantage of the ongoing trade friction (through) extreme rhetoric such as 'decoupling,' the 'new Cold War,' and ‘clash of civilizations,'" Cui said in remarks at a U.S.-China Business dinner. He said some are trying to “rebuild the Berlin Wall between China and the United States in the economic, technological and ideological fields.”
He called on U.S. and Chinese companies to withstand efforts he said were aimed at spreading “hostility and even create conflict between us," as well as "fake news" about the situations in both Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
Cui did not specifically talk about the status of the trade talks, but said China remains committed to expanding bilateral trade and investment between the two nations.
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