US-China Trade Negotiation Representatives Phone Call in the Morning... "Consensus on Maintaining Communication" (Update)

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] On the morning of the 8th, trade negotiation representatives from the United States and China reached a consensus to create a favorable atmosphere for the implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement through a phone call.

On the same day, Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held a phone call in the morning.

Both sides engaged in discussions emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation in macroeconomics and public health sectors to foster a favorable atmosphere and conditions for the implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement between the U.S. and China, aiming to produce positive effects. They also agreed on the importance of maintaining continuous communication and consultation.

Attention is focused on whether the frozen U.S.-China relations can be eased through the trade negotiators’ phone call.

This phone call between the two trade negotiation representatives marks the first dialogue since the signing of the Phase 1 trade agreement in January this year. At the time of the agreement’s conclusion in January, both countries’ representatives agreed to meet every six months to discuss related issues, but with this phone call taking place, the schedule was moved up ahead of plan.

Earlier, on the 7th (local time), Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, that Vice Premier Liu and Representative Lighthizer were expected to have a phone call as early as next week.

The phone call between the trade negotiation representatives is being attempted amid deepening conflicts over the responsibility for the spread of COVID-19 between the two countries and disputes surrounding the implementation of the trade agreement. President Trump believes that China failed to respond properly in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, which exacerbated the situation, and also views that the already concluded Phase 1 trade agreement has not been properly fulfilled. Consequently, President Trump has warned that if China does not purchase U.S. products and services in the promised amounts, the U.S.-China trade agreement could be terminated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.