US, China list goods recommended for tariff cuts following Trump-Xi summit | International Trade News
The United States and China have released a preliminary list of goods recommended for reduced tariffs following last week’s summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The list was published on Sunday, shortly after the two leaders agreed to initiate efforts to lower tariffs on goods worth $60 billion.
The agreement proposes tariff reductions that will encompass $30 billion of imports from each side, identifying 77 Chinese products and over 1,600 U.S. items for possible tariff relief. Among the Chinese goods recommended for reduced tariffs are microwave ovens, fish hooks, artificial flowers, and weighing scales. U.S. products targeted for lower tariffs include poultry, dairy items, noodles, eggs, peanuts, canned tomatoes, purebred horses, and silk.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that this initiative would enhance market access for about 30 percent of U.S. exports to China, ultimately benefiting American consumers. “The Trump Administration will continue to pursue fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with China,” Greer noted in a statement, emphasizing the commitment to enforcing agricultural and energy purchase agreements and securing market access for U.S. producers.
China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed the list on Monday, indicating that both sides would seek to establish a reciprocal tariff reduction framework, aiming to reach an agreement of $30 billion on each side’s imports. The ministry asserted that this arrangement would help stabilize trade between the two nations and improve conditions for Chinese exports, while also addressing domestic market demand and strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, energy, and consumer goods.
While the summit was marked by significant ceremony, discussions on a range of contentious issues, including trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan, concluded with few clear resolutions. Trump and Xi have met three times in person since October of the previous year and are expected to reconvene at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November, and at the Group of 20 meeting in Miami, Florida, in December.
Trade between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, has sharply declined since Trump, a long-time critic of free trade, took office in January 2021. Two-way trade reached $495 billion in 2025, marking a 25 percent decrease from the previous year, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.
Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore, commented on the recent announcement, suggesting it does not indicate a significant change in U.S.-China trade dynamics. “Both sides have mostly listed goods that do not considerably influence overall trade flows,” she told Al Jazeera. “While there may be a slight reduction in U.S. consumer prices, it is unlikely to dramatically impact inflation or alleviate significant concerns for most buyers.” She added that, although the Chinese list includes various agricultural products, many are neither exported to China nor significantly traded in large quantities.
