Trump seeks to 'manage' US-China trade — business sees opportunity for tariff relief

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed this month to establish a new bilateral trade body aimed at more systematically managing US-China trade relations. Business leaders see in this agreement hope for tariff relief. The administration is currently developing a concrete proposal for the new body's structure and mandate.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reached an agreement earlier this month to establish a new bilateral trade council tasked with resolving trade disputes between the two major powers in a more structured manner. The Washington administration is now developing a concrete proposal for how this body will operate.

Business circles are viewing the agreement with optimism, seeing in it an opening for relief from existing tariffs. Trade tensions between the US and China have grown significantly in recent years, and high reciprocal tariffs have created substantial additional costs for many companies on both sides of the Pacific.

The creation of a new trade body suggests that both sides are seeking a longer-term and more institutionalized framework for regulating bilateral trade, rather than dealing with conflicts through temporary agreements. According to experts, this could mark a significant shift in the approach to US-China trade relations.

However, many analysts remain cautious — previous US-China trade agreements have often faced obstacles, and it is unclear what specific conditions the new body will actually be able to negotiate. Internal discussion within the administration about the new body's precise powers and structure is still ongoing.