China and U.S. hold vice-ministerial talks on trade issue

China and the U.S. held a "vice-ministerial level" telephone call on trade and other economic issues, according to a statement by China's Ministry of Commerce released on Wednesday.

National flags of China and the U.S. [File photo: IC]

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday at a press conference that Chinese and U.S. trade teams are maintaining close communication in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their meeting.

Last week, China announced that it will suspend the 25-percent tariffs on 144 U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts, and five-percent tariffs on 67 auto items until March 31, 2019, instead of implementing them on the previously announced date of January 1. The move is a demonstration of the country's implementation of consensus agreed by both sides.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump agreed during the G20 summit earlier this month to continue the trade talks between the two countries and stop imposing new tariffs.