Winning: China to Meet with U.S. Officials in D.C. for Trade Talks

U.S. and Chinese officials reportedly agreed to schedule trade talks in early October amid an escalating tariff war between the two countries. (Related: Trump is Winning the Trade War with China)

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He agreed to open talks during a phone call, The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing China’s Commerce Ministry.

Preparations for the October meeting set to take place in Washington, D.C., will begin in mid-September, Chinese and U.S. officials confirmed, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Plans to resume talks come just days after the U.S. imposed a 15% tariff on Chinese imports valued at $111 billion in 2018 including tools, apparel, footwear and electronics on Sept. 1.

China retaliated the same day by imposing increased tariffs on $75 billion worth of American products including crude oil, automobiles and farm products like soybeans, according to The New York Times.

“Starting on October 1st, the [$]250 BILLION of goods and products from China, currently being taxed at 25%, will be taxed at 30%,” the president announced Aug. 23.

Both countries plan to further increase tariffs in December unless trade talks impact that outcome.

China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson also urged the U.S. to ease its crackdown on Chinese tech giant Huawei during a Thursday press conference, TheWSJ reported.

Trump signed an executive order to ban U.S. Huawei sales in May due to national security concerns after the Department of Justice charged the company for bank fraud, wire fraud and violating Iran sanctions. Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei said the blacklisting move would cost the company $30 billion in revenue.

The president hinted at easing sanctions against Huawei in late June at the G-20 summit when he said “U.S. companies can sell their equipment to Huawei” in an attempt to ease trade tension between the U.S. and China.