China-US trade envoys seek broader cooperation to ease tensions

China and the United States signaled a renewed effort to stabilize their trade relations after a high-level video call between Vice Premier He Lifeng and top American officials, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The discussion followed the latest contacts between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, who have sought to manage the world's largest bilateral economic relationship.

Bilateral consultation mechanism

During the meeting, both sides described their talks as “in-depth” and “constructive,” emphasizing that they aim to translate the consensus reached in Busan and in the leaders’ November 24 phone call into practical cooperation. According to Chinese state media, the two teams reiterated their intention to keep communication channels active to prevent new disputes and address existing friction points.

Expanding cooperation areas

Officials noted that the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism will be used more extensively in the coming period. The goal, they said, is to broaden the list of fields where collaboration is possible—from industrial supply chains to agricultural trade—while reducing the number of unresolved issues. Washington and Beijing alike framed this approach as essential for maintaining steady momentum in economic ties.

Recent leader contacts

The video call came shortly after Trump and Xi discussed a wide range of topics, including fentanyl regulation, soybean and other farm product exports, and the conflict in Ukraine. Their exchange followed an October 30 meeting in Busan, South Korea, where the two leaders signaled progress toward easing tariff pressures. Observers in Türkiye note that any meaningful stabilization in China-US trade could influence global markets and supply routes relevant to Ankara.