US and China Hold First Board of Trade Meeting Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

US and China Hold First Board of Trade Meeting Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

The United States and China held the first official meeting of their newly established Board of Trade on Friday, marking a further step in efforts by the world's two largest economies to manage trade tensions and advance negotiations over non-sensitive goods ahead of an anticipated meeting between their leaders.

The meeting was confirmed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which said American and Chinese officials had convened on November 13. The Board of Trade was established following an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Trump's visit to Beijing in May.

According to Reuters, the USTR said the Trump administration looked forward to continued engagement with China, with the stated objective of establishing fair and balanced trade between the two countries. The announcement did not provide a detailed account of the discussions or identify any new agreements reached during Friday's meeting.

The Board of Trade is intended to provide a mechanism for addressing trade in non-sensitive products, potentially allowing the two sides to make progress in areas where commercial cooperation is less politically contentious than disputes involving advanced technology, national security and strategic industries.

The mechanism gained significance in September, when U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that the two countries had recommended approximately $30 billion worth of trade in non-sensitive goods on each side that could qualify for more favourable tariff treatment.

In a statement issued on September 27, the USTR said the proposed framework covered products including agricultural goods, medical devices, household products and toys. The recommendations were presented as a potential basis for improving market access, rather than evidence that all proposed tariff changes had already taken effect.

China has also indicated that the two sides are maintaining close communication on implementation. Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said the countries were discussing reciprocal tariff reductions covering around $30 billion worth of imports on each side, as well as other issues concerning trade and investment.

According to Xinhua, more than 90% of the products covered by the arrangement would be exempt from additional tariffs imposed by the two countries and receive most-favoured-nation tariff treatment once the relevant domestic legal procedures had been completed.

Beijing has called on Washington to work with China to implement the arrangement at an early date, saying the measures could help stabilise and expand bilateral trade and create better conditions for agricultural commerce.

The first Board of Trade meeting also comes at a politically important moment. Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen from November 18 to 19, where Xi will chair the gathering. The two leaders' participation has raised expectations of further high-level discussions on trade and broader bilateral relations.

However, the establishment of a dialogue mechanism does not mean that the underlying disputes have been resolved. Differences remain over tariffs, export controls, technology access, investment restrictions and market access.

For businesses, the immediate significance of Friday's meeting may lie in the possibility of a more predictable channel for discussing commercial issues. Companies on both sides have faced uncertainty from shifting tariff policies and geopolitical tensions.

Whether the Board of Trade can translate political commitments into measurable improvements in market access will depend on the implementation of the proposed measures and the willingness of both governments to maintain regular engagement.