Reports: China wants US tariffs rolled back in phase one trade deal

Shoes on sale at a store in California. US import tariffs rose more than US$100bil on Chinese goods in since September. - AFP

BEIJING (Dec 1, Agencies/ANN): Beijing's top priority in any phase one trade deal with the United States is the removal of existing tariffs on Chinese goods, China's Global Times newspaper said on Sunday (Dec 1), amid continued uncertainty on whether the two sides can strike a deal.

"Sources with direct knowledge of the trade talks told the Global Times on Saturday that the U.S. must remove existing tariffs, not planned tariffs, as part of the deal," said the report.