China lowers tariffs, rejects US trade war escalation

China said yesterday it wanted to avoid an escalation of trade tensions with the United States, as the two sides held new talks and Beijing decided to lower some tariffs, reports AFP from Beijing.

The overture came two days after the White House said its planned trade sanctions against China were still in the works despite the announcement of a truce following a previous round of talks earlier in May.

China has threatened to hit back with tit-for-tat tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in US goods.

A 50-strong US delegation arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for follow-up meetings, Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said, without proving more details.

"We hope that China and US economic and trade cooperation can benefit people in both countries, and we are not willing to see trade frictions escalate," Gao told a regular press briefing.

The delegation is laying the groundwork for a weekend visit by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

China lowers tariffs, rejects US trade war escalation

China said yesterday it wanted to avoid an escalation of trade tensions with the United States, as the two sides held new talks and Beijing decided to lower some tariffs, reports AFP from Beijing. The overture came two days after the White House said its planned trade sanctions against China were still in the works despite the announcement of a truce following a previous round of talks earlier in May. China has threatened to hit back with tit-for-tat tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in US goods. A 50-strong US delegation arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for follow-up meetings, Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said, without proving more details. We hope that China and US economic and trade cooperation can benefit people in both countries, and we are not willing to see trade frictions escalate, Gao told a regular press briefing. The delegation is laying the groundwork for a weekend visit by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.