China's Ministry of Commerce: "Trade talks with the U.S. in Malaysia from the 24th to the 27th"

Preparations ahead of the APEC summit

The United States and China have agreed to hold the fifth high-level trade talks in Malaysia starting on the 24th. It is interpreted as preliminary preparations ahead of the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the 23rd on its website that, following consultations between the U.S. and China, Vice Premier He Lifeng, who leads China's trade negotiations, will lead a delegation to visit Malaysia from the 24th to the 27th and hold trade negotiations with the U.S. side.

The ministry spokesman explained, "The two countries will conduct negotiations on important issues in Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations in accordance with the agreement the two leaders reached during their phone call earlier this year."

Since April, the U.S. and China have confronted each other by imposing high tariffs and trade control measures on each other. Even so, they have held high-level trade talks and discussed issues in various locations: Geneva, Switzerland (May); London, United Kingdom (June); Stockholm, Sweden (July); and Madrid, Spain (September).

At each meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Representative Jamison Greer led the U.S. delegation, while Vice Premier He Lifeng led the Chinese delegation.

This fifth high-level trade talk is an event held amid expectations of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the APEC summit in Gyeongju on the 31st. The two delegations are likely to pre-coordinate trade-related agendas ahead of the leaders' meeting.

After confirming the holding of the fifth meeting, Secretary Bessent, Representative Greer, and Vice Premier He exchanged views via a video call on the 18th.

Jin Young-gi, Hankyung.com reporter young71@hankyung.com