– by the National Association of Manufacturers

In a formal announcement on August 16, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced the Vice Minister Wang Shouwen would lead a Chinese delegation to Washington in late August – dates that later reports indicate will be August 22-23 – to engage in negotiations on trade challenges with the Treasury Department’s Undersecretary for International Affairs David Malpass. Wang, who also carries the International Trade Negotiator title within MOFCOM, was a participant in both rounds of US-China trade talks in May. Wang is reported to be leading a nine-member Chinese government delegation, expected to also include representatives from government agencies such as the Ministry of Finance (which formally issues tariffs).

This would mark the first time that representatives from both countries have sat down in dialogue since Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s trip to Beijing in early June – a development in line with the NAM’s consistent call for the administration to “get back to the negotiating table” with Beijing. Given the lower level of the delegation leads, it is unlikely that the visit will announce negotiated outcomes but could set up further rounds of negotiations or lay the groundwork for President Trump and President Xi to meet on the sidelines of the late November G20 summit in Buenos Aires.