China, US to reduce tariffs on agreed products as Beijing confirms aircraft deal

China and the US have agreed to reduce tariffs on products of "equal scale” that concern each side, as Beijing confirmed procurement of aircraft from Washington, a spokesperson for Beijing's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Saturday.

The confirmation came after US President Donald Trump concluded a three-day state visit to China on Friday.

The spokesperson said that Beijing and Washington have agreed to establish a Trade Council to discuss issues, including tariff reductions, investments, and bilateral trade.

"The two sides will discuss issues including tariff reductions on relevant products through the Trade Council, and agreed in principle to reduce tariffs on products of equal scale that concern each side," the spokesperson added.

The statement, however, did not specify the products on which tariffs would be reduced.

The two sides, the spokesperson further said, reached relevant arrangements regarding China’s procurement of aircraft from the US, as well as Washington ensuring the supply of aircraft engines and components to Beijing, and agreed to continue advancing cooperation in related fields.

Trump had announced that China agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft as well as General Electric engines.

Beijing said the two sides also agreed to promote the expansion of two-way trade, including in agricultural products, through arrangements such as mutual tariff reductions on products within a certain scope.

Both sides will resolve or substantially push forward the resolution of certain non-tariff barriers on agricultural products and market access issues.

The US side will "actively" push to resolve China's long-standing concerns regarding the automatic detention of dairy and aquatic products, the export of medium-based bonsai to Washington, and the recognition of the avian influenza-free zone in Shandong.

"China will also actively push to resolve U.S. concerns regarding the registration of beef facilities and the export of poultry meat from certain states to China," the statement said.

The two countries' economic and trade teams had met in the South Korean capital of Seoul on May 13 ahead of the summit between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Currently, average US tariffs on Chinese exports now stand at 47.5% and cover 100% of all goods, according to the Washington-based think tank Paterson Institute of International Economics.

China's average tariffs on US exports are at 31.9% and cover 100% of all goods.

US tariffs have risen by 26.8 percentage points since the second Trump administration began on January 20, 2025. Chinese tariffs have risen by 10.7 percentage points over the same period.