Washington and Beijing have each issued a catalogue of merchandise that could see tariff relief after a summit between former US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two sides said the lists are intended to guide forthcoming negotiations on trade adjustments and to ease the economic friction that has built up over the past years.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a set of American exports that could qualify for reduced tariffs, highlighting categories such as agricultural produce, certain manufacturing inputs and consumer items. In parallel, China’s Ministry of Commerce released its own schedule of imports that may benefit from lower duties, including a range of food products, raw materials and selected technology components.
Both lists are described as recommendations rather than final decisions. Implementation will require further review by the respective legislative bodies and regulatory agencies in each country. Officials from the USTR and the Chinese ministry said the proposals are part of a broader effort to recalibrate the bilateral trade framework that has been strained by a series of tariff measures imposed during the previous decade.
The summit, which took place in a neutral venue, marked the first direct engagement between the two leaders since the escalation of trade disputes that saw the United States levy tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods and China respond with its own set of duties on American products. While the meeting did not produce a comprehensive trade pact, participants agreed to pursue incremental steps that could restore market confidence and reduce costs for businesses on both sides.
Analysts note that the goods identified for possible tariff cuts are largely those that have been most affected by the existing tariff regime. For US exporters, the emphasis on agricultural items could provide a boost to farmers who have faced reduced competitiveness in the Chinese market. Conversely, Chinese manufacturers hope that lower duties on key inputs will help lower production costs and improve export margins.
The United States and China have indicated that the recommendations will be reviewed in the coming weeks, with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable schedule for tariff adjustments. Both sides have stressed that any changes will be implemented in a transparent manner and will be subject to domestic approval processes.
If the proposals move forward, they could represent a modest but significant de‑escalation of the trade conflict that has impacted global supply chains and contributed to price volatility in several sectors. The outcome will be closely watched by multinational corporations, trade groups and policymakers who have been seeking a pathway to more stable economic relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/9/28/us-china-list-goods-recommended-for-tariff-cuts-following-trump-xi-summit?traffic_source=rss.