The US and China began talks on economic and trade issues.
The two sides will hold consultations on important issues about China-U.S. economic and trade ties in accordance with the important consensus reached by heads of state of the two countries during their phone calls this year, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.
The talks, which were being held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, seek to find a way to avoid further escalation between them, after Trump threatened to impose new 100 percent customs duties on Chinese goods and other trade restrictions, starting next November 1, in response to China expanding export controls on magnets and rare earth metals.
The Chinese delegation is led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
