During the second day of trade talks in Shanghai, Chinese officials “confirmed their commitment to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural exports,” said the White House on Wednesday. “The U.S. side agreed to create favorable conditions for it,” said a Chinese editor believed to have contacts in the government. Neither side said when the purchases would occur or how large they would be.
“The meetings were constructive, and we expect negotiations on an enforceable trade deal to continue in Washington, D.C., in early September,” said the White House. “The two sides discussed topics such as forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, and agriculture. The Chinese side confirmed their commitment to increase purchases of United States agricultural exports.”
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, published under the aegis of the Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily, said on social media, “Based on what I know, the two sides will hold intensive working-level consultations in Aug.” In an earlier tweet, Hu said, “Based on what I know, Chinese and U.S. negotiators had an efficient and constructive deep exchange on Wednesday. The two sides discussed increasing purchase of U.S. farm products, and the U.S. side agreed to create favorable conditions for it.”
Hu often uses the phrase “based on what I know” to introduce information that seems to come from government officials or reflects government views.
U.S. officials, including President Trump, have called repeatedly on China to step up purchases of U.S. food and ag products, but there have been few sizable purchases in weeks. China used to be the top customer for U.S. farm exports, but sales this year are forecast to be only one-third of their level before the trade war. Tit-for-tat tariffs have made U.S. farm products too expensive for Chinese importers.
To read a New York Times profile of Hu, click here.