China announces reaching a preliminary consensus with the United States on trade
China announced on Monday that it has reached a preliminary consensus with the United States to address long-standing trade disputes, marking what could be a step toward easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The announcement came following two days of high-level negotiations held in Malaysia, where delegations from both nations met ahead of a scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
“China and the United States constructively discussed appropriate solutions to issues of concern to both sides and reached preliminary consensus,” said Li Xingang, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce and representative for international trade, during a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur.
Li added that the discussions covered a range of topics including tariffs, market access, intellectual property rights, and measures to promote balanced trade relations.
“Both sides have shown sincerity and flexibility in their approach, demonstrating a shared desire to stabilize economic relations,” he said.
Although Li didn’t specify the details of the consensus, he emphasized that the agreement lays the groundwork for further progress during the upcoming presidential meeting.
Analysts say the talks could signal a potential thaw in a trade conflict that has disrupted global markets and supply chains for years.
US officials haven’t yet issued a formal statement on the talks, but a source close to the negotiations described the discussions as “positive and forward-looking”.
Economists suggest that if both countries follow through on the consensus, it could lead to a reduction in tariffs and a clearer framework for trade cooperation.
However, they also caution that reaching a full and enforceable agreement will require continued political will from both Washington and Beijing.
The Trump–Xi meeting, expected to take place on the sidelines of an international economic forum later this week, is widely viewed as a critical opportunity to consolidate progress and prevent further escalation of trade tensions.
