China and the United States agree to reduce tariffs on $60 billion in goods, covering areas ranging from fish hooks to medical equipment

After Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Washington last week, China and the United States have agreed to reduce tariffs on $60 billion worth of goods, ranging from fish hooks to medical equipment.

In an effort to ease economic tensions, the world's two largest economies each announced lists of non-sensitive goods worth $30 billion, on which they plan to reduce tariffs.

The list of Chinese imports released by Washington that is eligible for tariff reductions includes 77 items, including Christmas toys and decorations, hunting and leisure items such as fish hooks and skeet targets, tableware and household appliances, and car seats.

Beijing's list includes 1,619 products, including frozen meat from primates and reptiles, live animals such as whales and dugongs, agricultural products such as corn and vegetables, and medical equipment such as X-ray machines, pacemakers, ultrasound equipment and surgical robots.

Neither country's lists released on Sunday include raw materials and products that each considers sensitive, including rare earth minerals and technologies critical to advancing the development of artificial intelligence. Some of these products are currently subject to export controls.

The commitment to reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods is the most substantive move by both countries to date, demonstrating that both sides are making sincere efforts to improve bilateral relations that have sunk to new lows over the past year. As President Trump revitalizes the U.S. coal industry, China will import at least 10 million metric tons of coal from the United States again in 2027 and 2028.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer said that reducing tariffs is an initiative under the framework of the newly established trade committee between the two countries, which will provide better market access for 30% of U.S. exports to China, "while allowing consumers to benefit from Chinese imports." President Trump is eager to relieve pressure on farmers ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and may also be worried about the inflationary impact of tariffs during the Christmas shopping season.

China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that the move would "help stabilize Sino-US trade" and "strengthen" the two sides' "trade cooperation" in areas such as agricultural products and consumer goods.

Ahead of last week's talks between Xi and Trump, China agreed to extend the trade truce for two months. The deal was struck in South Korea last year after a brief but costly retaliatory tariff war that saw China cut off U.S. supplies of rare earths needed to make cars and weapons.

Amid broader trade negotiations, the Trump administration has focused on reducing the trade deficit with China. After Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing in May this year, the United States stated that China had agreed to significantly increase purchases of American agricultural products. So far, however, this commitment has not translated into substantial purchases.