Discussions resume. China and the United States began new trade negotiations in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday aimed at finding a solution to the tariff war between the world’s two largest economies.
AFP journalists watched Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrive at the Merdeka 118 tower, the world’s second tallest skyscraper, which is hosting the talks.
The leader, whose visit is scheduled until Monday, did not speak to journalists. The American delegation arrived through a separate entrance, away from the objectives.
A US Treasury spokesperson also confirmed the start of these negotiations.
Malaysia will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur starting Sunday, in the presence of Donald Trump, who left Washington on Friday afternoon.
During his visit to Asia, the US president will meet on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, with the aim of concluding a “good” trade agreement with Beijing.
This interview is scheduled on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit organized in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on October 31.
The world’s two largest economic powers have been locked in a bitter trade fight since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.
After a period of relative calm, tensions rose somewhat in October following China’s announcement to tighten controls on exports of rare earths and the technologies needed for their refining.
In response, Donald Trump threatened 100% additional customs duties on Chinese goods. However, he later softened his speech and the two sides agreed to new negotiations.
A series of previous talks in Geneva, London, Stockholm and Madrid have so far prevented the two powers from carrying out their respective threats to impose punitive customs tariffs.
Their trade truce will expire on November 10.
Source: BFM TV
