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U.S.-China talks center on tariffs, purchases of ag goods

Negotiations over the phone continued between U.S. and Chinese trade representatives Friday.

The discussion reportedly centered around tariffs and the purchase of $20 billion in U.S. ag goods by Beijing, if current U.S. tariffs are lifted.

New U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are scheduled to go into effect December.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative was quoted as saying the two sides are close to finalizing some aspects of a limited trade agreement.

President Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro is reportedly opposed to the as-of-yet unsigned “Phase One” of the deal because of intellectual property concerns, but with few allies.

“Phase One” could be signed in mid-November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Chile.