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US-China trade war
ChinaDiplomacy

China-US trade war talks to resume in early October as global growth outlook dims

  • The two sides hold first top-level phone call since August 13
  • Economists cut Chinese 2020 growth forecasts below 6 per cent on increasing impact of trade war and insufficient Beijing stimulus to stabilise growth

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US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (left) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have shared their first phone call with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He (right) since August 13. Photo: AFP
Teddy Ng,Wendy Wu,Orange WangandSidney Leng
China said it would strive to make substantial progress to resolve the trade war with the United States when the countries’ negotiators resume face-to-face talks in Washington in early October, with the year-long conflict prompting private sector economists to cut their 2020 growth forecasts.

The Ministry of Commerce made the pledge after Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and the US’ Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke on the phone on Thursday, their first conversation since August 13.

The ministry said both sides agreed to make concrete efforts to create positive conditions for continued dialogue.

“On the basis of full preparation by the working groups of both sides, efforts striving for substantive progress will be made in the 13th round of China-US high-level economic and trade consultations in early October,” ministry spokesman Gao Feng said.

Other Chinese officials, including Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, central bank governor Yi Gang and Ning Jizhe, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also joined the phone call.

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