Beijing/Bangkok, 26 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) – China and the United States have moved closer to resolving their tariff dispute, according to a senior Chinese official and US media.

Both sides have reached a preliminary agreement, said Li Chenggang, vice minister of commerce, following talks with the US delegation.

The accord must still undergo internal approval processes on both sides, Li added, although he provided no further details.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also described the talks in Kuala Lumpur as positive, calling them a prelude to Thursday's planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

The two leaders are set to discuss the ongoing trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.

Bessent told CBS News, according to a transcript of the interview, that he did not want to pre-empt the discussions between the two leaders, but assumed that the US threat to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports from November 1 was no longer on the table.

Over the weekend, China and the US held the fifth round of trade talks in Malaysia aimed at resolving the months-long conflict.

Discussions focused on issues including China's export controls on rare earths and US tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump hints at US visit for Xi ahead of trade talks

On Sunday, Trump hinted at a US visit by the Chinese president without giving any concrete details. The Republican leader is in Asia for several days to meet regional leaders.

Speaking on the sidelines of a summit in Malaysia, Trump initially spoke about his planned meeting with Xi. "I think we're going to have a good deal with China," he said.

Trump then mentioned his previously announced plans for a visit to China early next year and then, without mentioning Xi's name again, added a possible meeting in the United States.

He mentioned Washington or Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach - Trump's golf estate in Florida - as possible locations.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on Trump's remarks.

It would not be the first time that Xi has travelled to the US. China's president visited Mar-a-Lago in 2017 during Trump's first term in office. In 2015, then US president Barack Obama received Xi at the White House.

Dispute ongoing for months

The tariff dispute between the United States and China has been dragging on for months. Both countries have imposed import surcharges of more than 100% on each other's goods.

Since April, the US has gradually raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 145%. Beijing retaliated with counter-tariffs of up to 125% and introduced export controls on critical raw materials.

A temporary pause on the planned tariff hikes later paved the way for renewed negotiations. Most recently, Trump warned that tariffs of up to 157% could be imposed on China if no agreement was reached.

Photo: EPA