The U.S. and China have agreed on lists covering about $60 billion worth of goods that could receive lower tariffs, marking the most significant recent step toward easing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, The New York Times reports.
Washington identified 77 categories of Chinese imports eligible for more favorable treatment, including Christmas toys and ornaments, fishing hooks, skeet targets, tableware, appliances and car seats, while Beijing listed 1,619 U.S. products, including agricultural goods, frozen meat and medical equipment such as X-ray machines, pacemakers, ultrasound devices and surgical robots.
The lists focus on nonsensitive products, leaving strategically important areas such as rare earths and technologies related to artificial intelligence outside the tariff reductions. Some of those areas remain subject to export controls.
The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington and an extension of a temporary trade truce. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the measures would improve market access for U.S. exports while benefiting consumers through imports from China. The agreement also comes as the Trump administration seeks to support U.S. farmers and address inflationary pressure ahead of the holiday shopping season.
China says the measures would help stabilize bilateral trade and strengthen cooperation in areas including agriculture and consumer goods. Broader negotiations remain underway, including over China’s commitments to purchase more U.S. agricultural products, though those purchases have so far fallen short of expectations.
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