China tells US of concern over trade restrictions

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng told US officials in a video call Thursday that Beijing had “serious concern” over recent US economic and trade restrictions against China, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Xinhua said He spoke with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. It described the call as “candid, in-depth and constructive” and said the negotiators discussed maintaining stable economic and trade ties and addressing mutual concerns in the next phase.

Bessent confirmed the call in a social media statement. He said Washington stressed that it expected China “to fully meet its commitments on rare earths and US agricultural products”. He also said the sides discussed Trade and Investment Boards as a mechanism for progress toward a more balanced, fair and constructive US-China economic relationship.

The talks followed renewed tension over US trade measures. Beijing condemned fresh US tariffs imposed on China and 59 other countries last week over alleged forced labour concerns. China also accused the United States on Wednesday of seeking to “suppress” Chinese companies after Washington banned imports of humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured abroad.

China and the United States spent much of last year in an escalating trade war before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a truce when they met last October.

During a trip to Beijing in May, Trump invited Xi to visit the United States in September, but that visit has not been confirmed. Bessent said the conversation with He was part of preparation for the expected September meeting.