China-US trade frictions: Anti-dumping probe into US sorghum dropped as talks continue

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01:51

Our top story of the program, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is in the US as a special envoy for Chinese President Xi Jinping, attending a fresh round of trade talks that began Tuesday. Liu met with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, and discussions with senior American officials will continue until Friday. Our correspondent Zhao Yunfei has this report.

China has dropped its anti-dumping probe into American sorghum products, as Vice Premier Liu He continues to meet with US officials in Washington.

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said imposing punitive measures would, in its words, "affect the cost of living of large numbers of Chinese consumers and would not be in the public interest".

The move was announced hours after the delegation headed by Liu He met President Trump on Thursday.

China imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on US sorghum imports last month. It ordered importers to pay Chinese customs a deposit of up to 178.6 percent of the value of sorghum brought in.

But the US President doubts the talks will bear fruit.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "You never see people who come over China to work on a trade deal. Now will that be successful? I tend to doubt it."

At the meeting with Trump, Liu said Beijing and Washington should push trade cooperation and the two countries should try to resolve any trade disputes. He added, China and US trade ties should serve as the ballast and propeller for bilateral relations.

LIU HE CHINESE VICE PREMIER "China and US trade ties should serve as ballast and propeller of bilateral relations."

The White House says both sides should work together to settle existing problems in bilateral and economic relations.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "The United States has been ripped off for many many years. It is bad trade deals. I don't blame China. I blame the leadership of this country from the past."

The White House in a statement said US officials conveyed to the Chinese delegation President Trump's "clear goal for a fair trading relationship with China". Discussions will continue in Washington on Friday. ZYF, CGTN.