China has announced a new list of 79 U.S. products eligible for waivers from retaliatory tariffs imposed at the height of the bilateral trade war, amid continued pressure on Beijing to boost imports from the United States.
In a fresh statement on Tuesday, China’s finance ministry said the new waivers will take effect on May 19 and expire on May 18, 2021. The latest list waives tariffs on products including ores of rare earth metals, gold ores, silver ores and concentrates.
The ministry did not disclose the imports value of the products. Beijing in February said it will grant exemptions for 696 U.S. goods including key products such as soybeans and pork based on applications from companies.
Beijing and Washington’s top trade negotiators held a call last week and discussed implementation of the Phase 1 deal signed in January.
Renewed tensions between the two countries, sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in China late last year, are also raising questions about the trade truce.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to terminate the deal if China fails to meet its purchase commitments.
