The Chinese government said Saturday that the United States and China discussed the issue of tariffs during President Trump’s visit to the country last week, apparently contradicting statements from Mr. Trump the day before who said tariffs had not been discussed.
A spokesman for China’s Commerce Ministry said in a briefing on Saturday that the countries had agreed in principle to reduce tariffs on a range of products that were “a concern for both sides.”
It said the countries had agreed to set up separate panels to deal with trade and investment issues and that tariff cuts would be discussed in the trade panel.
The two sides agreed to advance resolution of agricultural trade issues, including China’s concerns over American treatment of bonsai trees, dairy and aquatic products, and the recognition of Shandong province as an avian flu-free zone. China will work to address U.S. concerns about beef and poultry exports from certain countries, it said.
The sides also agreed that China would purchase aircraft, aircraft engines and parts from the United States. The Commerce Department said the agreements were “tentative” and the two sides were still negotiating details.
U.S. officials had previously discussed trade and investment authorities. On Friday, Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, confirmed that the two sides would set up a trade panel that would oversee tariff cuts on $30 billion worth of goods on both sides.
Mr. Trump and other officials had also noted progress in agricultural trade and aircraft sales.
But speaking to reporters from Air Force One on Friday, Mr. Trump caused confusion when he claimed the two sides had not discussed U.S. tariffs on imports from China, a central topic of the summit.
“We haven’t talked about tariffs,” Trump said. “They pay significant tariffs, but we haven’t discussed that.”
When asked why, the president replied: “It hasn’t been brought up.”