China and the United States hold first bilateral Trade Council meeting via video conference

China and the United States held their first bilateral Trade Council meeting on November 13, 2026, to discuss economic relations and agricultural trade. The meeting was conducted via video conference, according to Al-Arabiya. The China Ministry of Commerce announced that the discussions included candid, in-depth, and constructive exchanges regarding previous trade outcomes and tariffs.

Tariff Reductions and Agricultural Trade

The discussions centered on a proposed $60 billion reciprocal tariff-cut package. This proposal follows a September summit in Washington between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. Under the current discussions, the two sides addressed reciprocal tariff-cut arrangements valued at $30 billion from each side. The China Ministry of Commerce noted that the parties also discussed the implementation of previous economic and trade talk outcomes.

A significant portion of the talks involved agricultural trade. China and the United States have an agreement to purchase $17 billion of U.S. agricultural goods annually through 2028. This figure matches the approximately $17 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products that China imported in 2024. However, China has requested the implementation of the $60 billion tariff-reduction deal as a prerequisite for increasing its purchases of agricultural products from the United States.

Current economic trends suggest a shift in trade patterns. A Reuters analysis of customs data indicates that 2026 U.S. agricultural purchases by China, excluding soybeans, are projected to reach a seven-year low. This projected decline adds complexity to the ongoing negotiations regarding trade volumes and tariff structures.

The Trade Council Mechanism

The Trade Council is a government-to-government mechanism designed to optimize bilateral trade between the two nations. According to the Financial Express, the White House released a document titled Working Procedures for the US-China Board of Trade on September 27. These working procedures provide for deputy-level meetings to occur at least once every quarter.

The U.S. delegation for these proceedings is overseen by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Chinese delegation includes Vice Premier He Lifeng. The White House stated that President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on Thursday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen.

The ongoing negotiations represent a significant effort to stabilize economic relations through structured, recurring diplomatic channels. As the Trade Council mechanism establishes a regular schedule for meetings, the two nations aim to manage the complexities of global trade through these scheduled bilateral sessions.

Glossary

• White House — The White House is an entity that releases documents regarding trade procedures. It is also a location where meetings between leaders can occur.
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation — Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim. It promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
• Trade Council — The Trade Council is a government-to-government mechanism designed to optimize bilateral trade between two nations. It establishes a regular schedule for meetings to manage the complexities of global trade through scheduled bilateral sessions.
• Treasury Secretary — The Treasury Secretary is an official who oversees the U.S. delegation for proceedings regarding the Trade Council. Scott Bessent is identified as the current Treasury Secretary.