As relations between Beijing and Washington have strained since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, Chinese and American negotiators have pledged to implement their trade agreement signed earlier this year, announced Friday May 8. the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, following a telephone interview.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, also agreed that China and the United States would work together to create an enabling environment for implementation of commitments made under the "phase 1" trade agreement signed in January.

During their phone call, "the two parties said they were ready to strengthen their cooperation in macroeconomic and public health matters and to do everything to create an atmosphere favorable to the implementation of their preliminary economic and commercial agreement, with a view to to achieve positive results, "reported the ministry.

After nearly two years of trade war with punitive tariffs, the world's top two economies have reached a preliminary agreement signed in January, just before the quarantine of the Chinese city of Wuhan, the cradle of the epidemic with coronavirus. In exchange for an increase in Chinese purchases of American products, the administration of President Donald Trump then committed to postpone any further increase in customs duties.

A war of words over the pandemic

The interview came after Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that he could end the Washington-Beijing deal if it turns out that China has broken the terms.

The pandemic, which paralyzes the world economy, could have questioned China's promise to increase its purchases of American products by $ 200 billion over two years, made when the agreement was signed in January.

In addition, Beijing and Washington have waged a war of words over the past few weeks over the origin of the pandemic.

With AFP and Reuters

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