Official Readouts from the China-U.S. Trade Talks in London

China’s official Press Release: The First Meeting of the China-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultation Mechanism Held in London, UK

June 11, 2025 – 09:57 AM

From June 9 to 10 local time, the first meeting of the China-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultation Mechanism was held in London, United Kingdom. The Chinese delegation was led by He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council, while the U.S. side was headed by Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, along with Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce, and Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative. The two sides engaged in candid and in-depth discussions, exchanging views on economic and trade issues of mutual concern. They reached a principled agreement on a framework of measures to implement the important consensus reached during the June 5th phone call between the two heads of state, and to consolidate the outcomes of the Geneva economic and trade talks. Progress was also made on addressing key bilateral trade concerns.

Vice Premier He Lifeng stated that this meeting was held under the strategic guidance of the consensus reached by the two presidents on June 5. China’s attitude and position on China-U.S. economic and trade issues are clear and consistent. The essence of the bilateral economic and trade relationship is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation—cooperation benefits both sides, while conflict harms both. There are no winners in a trade war. China does not want a trade war, but is not afraid of one either. Both sides should resolve economic and trade differences through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. China approaches the consultations with sincerity, and also with principles.

He emphasized that moving forward, both parties should implement the consensus and expectations outlined in the presidential phone call, further leveraging the role of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism to continually build consensus, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation. China reaffirmed that the two sides should work in the same direction, uphold good faith by matching words with deeds, and take concrete steps to honor commitments and implement agreements. Both sides must jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of dialogue, maintain communication, and promote the steady and long-term development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, thereby injecting greater certainty and stability into the global economy.

The U.S. side stated that the meeting yielded positive outcomes, further stabilizing bilateral economic and trade relations. They expressed readiness to work together with China to implement the meeting's consensus, in line with the direction set forth in the June 5 presidential phone call.

中美经贸磋商机制首次会议在英国伦敦举行

2025-06-11 09:57:00

当地时间6月9日至10日，中美经贸中方牵头人、国务院副总理何立峰与美方牵头人、美国财政部长贝森特及商务部长卢特尼克、贸易代表格里尔在英国伦敦举行中美经贸磋商机制首次会议。双方进行了坦诚、深入的对话，就各自关心的经贸议题深入交换意见，就落实两国元首6月5日通话重要共识和巩固日内瓦经贸会谈成果的措施框架达成原则一致，就解决双方彼此经贸关切取得新进展。

何立峰表示，本次会议是在两国元首今年6月5日战略共识指引下开展的一次重要磋商。中方对中美经贸问题的态度和立场是明确的、一贯的。中美经贸关系的本质是互利共赢，中美在经贸领域合则两利、斗则俱伤。贸易战没有赢家，中方不愿打，但也不怕打。双方应通过平等对话、互利合作解决经贸分歧，中方对经贸磋商是有诚意的，也是有原则的。下一步，双方要按照两国元首通话达成的重要共识和要求，进一步发挥好中美经贸磋商机制作用，不断增进共识、减少误解、加强合作。中方重申，双方应相向而行，言必行、行必果，拿出恪守承诺的诚信精神和切实履行共识的努力行动，共同维护来之不易的对话成果，继续保持沟通对话，推动中美经贸关系行稳致远，为世界经济注入更多确定性和稳定性。

美方表示，本次会议取得积极成果，进一步稳定了双边经贸关系，将按照两国元首通话要求，与中方相向而行，共同落实好本次会议共识。

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer Respond to Reporters After the Meeting:

Q: What's the difference between this meeting and the Geneva one?

Lutnick: Well, the difference between this meeting and Geneva is: Geneva set the framework, but for whatever reason, it just wasn't happening. It was going too slowly, too painfully. And so we put that back on the table.

But most importantly—yeah—President Trump and President Xi got on the phone together, and that gave us the fundamental foundation on which we were able to reach agreement. Without those two leaders, it was very difficult. But with the two leaders talking, I think both sides had that strong push to say, “Let’s get this done.”

That’s why we stayed at it so late in the day. We never stopped. We started early, we ended late. You have to get things done if you're working for President Trump—and I’m sure they felt the same, since they were working for President Xi.

Q: Did the Chinese seem motivated to come to some sort of deal?

Lutnick: Oh, we’re here. What time are we talking to you? I mean, it’s been what—11 and a half, 12 hours since we got together this morning? Maybe more. When was the call with the president? Thursday morning? And today’s Monday?

We got together at 10 this morning. It's now almost midnight. So that’s 14 hours together. I’ve been writing—well, we have an agreement. We have the Geneva agreement. Right now, we've agreed on a framework to implement it. We’re aligned on that framework.

Q: When do we get to see that framework?

Greer: Oh, well, I mean, you know—we’re keying off the Geneva agreement. That’s our reference point. And we’re working very closely with them to make sure implementation moves forward speedily.

Q: Geneva was four weeks ago. How do you avoid this stalling again?

Lutnick: I think the difference this time is: you had the two presidents on the phone, really creating the foundation that this framework is built on.

So, it was the combination of Geneva's consensus plus the president's call that gave us real confidence we can work this out.

Now, President Trump has to approve it. The Chinese team has to take it back to President Xi. Once both leaders approve it, we’ll be back on the phone together and we’ll start implementing the agreement.

We’ve done great work—I think we’ve pounded through all the complex issues. These are the world’s two largest economies; complexity is a given. But I truly believe we’ve reached a framework to implement what’s been agreed.

Vice Minister of Commerce and China’s International Trade Representative Li Chenggang Addresses the Press on the First Meeting of the China-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultation Mechanism

First of all, I would like to thank all the friends from both Chinese and international media for your attention to this round of China–U.S. talks here in London.

Especially now, as it’s already past 11 p.m.—almost midnight—you’ve been waiting outside for so long. We truly appreciate your hard work and patience.

Secondly, I would like to thank the government of the United Kingdom for the support and facilitation provided for this meeting.

I also want to say that while you were waiting anxiously outside, the Chinese and American negotiation teams were working very diligently inside.

Over the past two days, both teams engaged in in-depth, professional, rational, and candid discussions on the relevant topics.

The two sides have, in principle, reached a framework for implementing the consensus reached during the June 5th phone call between the two heads of state, as well as the consensus from the Geneva meeting.

Both delegations will now report the outcomes of this meeting—and the agreed implementation framework—to their respective leaders.

We hope that the progress made during this London meeting will help further enhance mutual trust between China and the United States, promote a stable and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations, and inject positive energy into the global economy.

Thank you all!