US to press China to buy more as allies seethe over new tariffs

BEIJING: US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross arrived in Beijing on Saturday aiming to secure more Chinese purchases of US goods and energy, days after Washington intensified pressure in its dispute with China and infuriated allies with tariffs on metals.

Ross was scheduled to have dinner on Saturday with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Beijing’s lead negotiator in the trade dispute, at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, a US official said.

The visit by Ross follows renewed tariff threats this week against China by the Trump administration, and as US allies are in a foul mood with Washington after they were hit with duties on steel and aluminium. The US and China have threatened titfor-tat tariffs on goods worth up to $150 billion each.

On Friday, the United States’ closest allies attacked the Trump administration over tariffs, with Japan calling the US action “deeply deplorable” during a meeting of G7 finance leaders in Canada. While US officials have sent conflicting signals during the dispute with China, one person familiar with planning for Ross’ visit said his aim was to keep dialogue going.

Ross is “going there to tread water”, the person said, declining to be identified. “The more Trump is irritating allies and asking Chinese to buy stuff, the better off they are.”