The First Vice Ministerial Meeting of the China US Business and Trade Working Group

At the invitation of the United States, Wang Shouwen, the International Trade Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Commerce of the Ministry of Commerce, visited the United States from April 2nd to 5th and co chaired the first Deputy Ministerial Meeting of the China US Commerce Working Group with Deputy Minister of Commerce Lago. Both sides engaged in objective, rational, professional and pragmatic communication on their respective trade policy issues and specific business issues raised by the business communities of the two countries, focusing on implementing the important consensus reached during the San Francisco meeting and recent phone calls between the two heads of state.

Wang Shouwen stated that the San Francisco meeting between China and the United States provides direction for the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries. Recently, the heads of state of the two countries had a phone call, instructing their respective work teams to promote a consultation mechanism in the fields of commerce and other areas. The economic and trade relationship between China and the United States should be a stabilizing force in the bilateral relationship. China is willing to work together with the United States to actively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen communication, expand cooperation, and control differences through the China US Commerce Working Group, and create a favorable environment for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. Wang Shouwen expressed concerns about the US's imposition of the 301 tariff on China and related 301 investigation applications, generalization of national security, sanctions against Chinese enterprises, revision of trade remedy investigation rules, bilateral investment restrictions, and unfair treatment of Chinese enterprises.

Both parties agree that the two ministries of commerce are willing to maintain close communication with their respective enterprises and discuss issues of concern to them; To jointly support trade and investment promotion activities organized by both parties, including the CIIE, CIFIT, China California Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, as well as cooperation activities in areas such as clean energy technology and women's health; Strengthen discussions on specific standard issues of concern to the industry; Explore strengthening trade facilitation cooperation; Play the role of export control information exchange mechanism and strengthen communication and exchange in the field of export control. At the invitation of the Chinese side, Vice Minister Lago will lead a delegation to visit China in the second half of 2024 and co chair the second vice ministerial level meeting of the China US Business and Trade Working Group with the Chinese side.

During his stay in the United States, Wang Shouwen also met and held talks with officials from the National Economic Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Homeland Security, and Ministry of Commerce of the Meibai Palace, and had extensive exchanges with representatives from the art and business community and think tank scholars.

Source: News Office of the Ministry of Commerce