Chinese trade negotiator urges US to boost agricultural cooperation
Li Chenggang tells visiting US delegation that fluctuations in agricultural trade have roots in America’s imposition of unilateral tariffs
China’s key trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, has called on the US to create “a favourable atmosphere” for agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
“We hope the US will work together with China, with a focus on the broader picture, to create a favourable atmosphere for practical cooperation in areas such as agriculture,” Li told a visiting US agricultural trade delegation in Beijing on Tuesday, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.
Li said there had been some “fluctuations” in agricultural trade between the two countries, but their origins lay in the unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States.
The two sides exchanged views on China-US economic and trade relations, agricultural trade and other matters, the statement said.
China, previously the biggest overseas market for US soybeans and often the destination for more than half of American exports of the staple crop, paused purchases of US soybeans from this autumn’s harvest amid mounting trade tensions.
In a social media post published after the summit, Trump said he was “extremely honoured by the fact that President Xi authorised China to begin the purchase of massive amounts of soybeans, sorghum and other farm products”.