French media: US Treasury Secretary and Trade Representative go to Malaysia for talks with China
Trump sent his Treasury Secretary and Chief Trade Representative to Malaysia for trade negotiations with China on Wednesday, to ensure that his meeting with China would proceed smoothly. Malaysia will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur starting Sunday.
The US Treasury Secretary, Bensons, and the Trade Representative, Grille, have gone to Malaysia, where they will negotiate with Chinese officials to ease tensions caused by Beijing's restrictions on rare earth exports. Washington officials are preparing new measures against Beijing in case no agreement is reached.
Benson said that Grille has already left for Kuala Lumpur and will arrive there later on Wednesday, then complete the remaining part of Trump's Asia trip with him.
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January this year, a fierce trade war has been taking place between the United States and China. After a relatively calm period, tensions escalated again in October following China's announcement of stricter controls over the export of rare earths and the technologies needed for their refining.
However, on Wednesday, Trump downplayed the importance of China's restrictions on the export of rare earth magnets, calling it "a distraction," and said tariffs were a "more powerful" issue.
After China announced export controls on almost all rare earth products, Trump announced that he would impose a 100% tariff on China, which will take effect on November 1st.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Thursday, "based on the consensus reached by both sides, the Chinese Vice Premier will lead a delegation to Malaysia from October 24th to 27th to conduct economic and trade negotiations with the United States."
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in Malaysia, "both sides will consult on important issues in Sino-US economic and trade relations according to the consensus reached by the two heads of state earlier this year."
Trump plans to attend the ASEAN meeting starting Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, and later travel to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit from October 31st to November 1st.
The US Treasury Secretary, Bensons, said that Trump will also stop in Japan to meet with the new Prime Minister, Takahashi Haruko.
Source: rfi
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846820322880512/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.