China hopes the US can create favourable conditions to improve and expand trade cooperation, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting said on Thursday. The statement came as China has fallen short of its commitments under the “phase-one” trade deal signed during the Trump era. Beijing pledged to raise imports of US goods by $200 billion in 2020 and 2021, against 2017 levels. However, analysts said China managed to fulfil only 60% of those promises as of November 2021.
Shu argued China has worked hard to meet its pledges but had to cope with multiple adverse factors resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global recession, and supply chain issues. US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday said the US would continue pressing China to deliver its remaining commitments before discussing any extension in the trade deal.
