China to Ask US to Remove Tariffs in Exchange for Agricultural Buys

China's Vice Premier Liu He gestures to the media between U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (L) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin before the two countries' trade negotiations in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2019. Yuri Gripas/Reuters

WASHINGTON–Top U.S. and Chinese trade officials will discuss plans on Oct. 25 for China to buy more U.S. farm products, but in return, Beijing will request cancellation of some planned and existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, people briefed on the talks told Reuters.

Robert Lighthizer, the United States Trade Representative, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will speak by telephone on Friday, their latest attempt to calm a nearly 16-month trade war.