Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China.
China said Saturday it had reached a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. that includes proposed tariff reductions, following President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
In a statement, China’s commerce ministry said the two sides had agreed in principle to lower tariffs on certain products on an equivalent basis.
However, Beijing failed to identify which goods would be affected or how deep the cuts would be.
BREAKING:
CHINA AND THE U.S. JUST AGREED TO ESTABLISH NEW TRADE AND INVESTMENT COUNCILS
THIS IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD A FORMAL DEAL
AGRICULTURAL, AIRCRAFT, AND ENERGY SECTORS ARE SET TO EXPLODE
THE $1 TRILLION CHINA INVESTMENT IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN PLAY pic.twitter.com/Ze5HMDVDUp
— Leshka.eth (@leshka_eth) May 16, 2026
“The two sides will discuss issues such as tariff reductions on specific products, and they have agreed in principle to lower tariffs on products of respective concern on an equivalent scale,” the ministry said.
They continued:
… the two countries will resolve or make substantive progress toward resolving non-tariff barriers and market access issues involving some agricultural products.
The United States will actively work to address long-standing Chinese concerns including automatic detention measures targeting Chinese dairy and aquatic products, exports of media-grown bonsai to the United States, and recognition of avian influenza-free zones in east China’s Shandong Province.
China, for its part, will actively advance solutions to U.S. concerns regarding beef facility registration and poultry exports from certain U.S. states to China.
Moreover, the two sides agreed to promote two-way trade, including in agricultural products, through arrangements such as mutual tariff reductions on a range of products.
The announcement came despite Trump saying tariffs were not directly discussed during his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We didn’t discuss tariffs,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday.
China also confirmed aviation agreements involving aircraft purchases and U.S. guarantees for the supply of aircraft engines and related parts.
Trump previously said China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft and General Electric engines.
JUST IN: President Trump touts a “historic” visit to China, announcing a massive deal for Boeing and General Electric that includes hundreds of aircraft and engines.
The President praised President Xi as an “incredible guy,” noting that the trade agreements could ultimately… pic.twitter.com/7hvvYB4mA5
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 15, 2026
The Chinese statement offered few concrete details, but it appears aimed at signaling progress after years of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
WATCH: Trump Shakes Xi Jinping’s Hand on Red Carpet in Beijing – Leaders Hold Bilateral Talks
Tariffs were widely expected to be a key issue heading into the summit, given the economic standoff between the two great superpowers.
The proposed agreement suggests the Trump administration is pursuing targeted economic concessions from Beijing while attempting to stabilize relations with its major strategic rival.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this year that Trump and Xi could meet as many as four times in 2026.
Xi is expected to visit Washington for a state visit in September.
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