The US trade chief called He, Li and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min “tough negotiators”.
Vice Premier He, speaking to reporters at China’s mission to World Trade Organization (WTO), described the talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive” on issues of concern to both countries.
“The meeting achieved substantial progress, and reached important consensus,” He said, drawing applause from a large audience of Chinese officials at the WTO office.
He also met with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who said she was “pleased with the positive outcome” of the talks and urged the two countries to build on momentum to mitigate trade tensions.
The WTO has ruled against Trump’s past tariffs on Chinese goods, but the cases have been stalled in the WTO’s paralysed appellate body due to the US blocking judge appointments.
NEW CONSULTATION PLATFORM
The US and China agreed to establish a new consultation mechanism for trade and economic issues, with relevant details to be finalised as soon as possible, He added.
China and the US have convened numerous consultation bodies to try to resolve trade and economic differences in recent decades, including the Economic Working Group that former president Joe Biden’s Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, established with Vice Premier He in 2023.
These dialogues have provided forums for airing bilateral grievances, but have done little to advance Washington’s longstanding goal to shift China’s state-dominated, export-driven economic model toward one driven by consumer spending.
