Both sides agree to work out details, go through domestic procedures for approval: FM on China-US framework trade deal, soybean purchases

Chinese Foreign Ministry (FM) spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated on Monday that the latest round of China-US economic and trade talks had reached basic consensus on the arrangements to address respective concerns, with both sides agreeing to make further effort to work out the details and go through their respective domestic procedures for approval.

The comments came after the spokesperson was asked during Monday's press briefing whether more details could be provided regarding the framework of the trade agreement reached by China and the US ahead of the expected meeting of the Chinese and US presidents, particularly as regards purchases of soybeans as outlined by the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Guo said that China has released a readout on the China-US economic and trade consultation. "During the consultation, under the guidance of the important common understandings between the two presidents, the two sides had candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges and consultation on important economic and trade issues of mutual interest, and reached basic consensus on the arrangements to address respective concerns," he noted.

The two sides agreed to make further effort to work out the details and go through their respective domestic procedures for approval, the spokesperson said, adding that specifics should be directed to the competent authorities.

The Chinese and US delegations convened on Saturday and Sunday for the new round of talks on economic and trade issues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides reached basic consensuses on arrangements to address their respective trade concerns after two days of talks, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The two sides had candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges of views on important trade and economic issues of mutual concerns, including the US Section 301 measures on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, extension of the suspension of reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl-related tariff and law enforcement cooperation, trade in agricultural products, and export controls, Xinhua reported.

When asked about China-US trade consultations and the claim by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that he expects China to postpone the implementation of its rare-earth exports controls for one year to reconsider the policy and that the US and China may sign a final agreement on TikTok, Guo on Monday referred to the statement he made earlier at the press conference.

"Regarding the specific questions you raised about TikTok, I suggest you refer them to the relevant Chinese authorities. China's position on the TikTok issue is consistent," Guo told the press conference.

The series of trade disputes between China and the US, including those over soybeans, were proactively and unilaterally initiated by the US, Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

"The Kuala Lumpur talks have forged a preliminary consensus, a promising start, but the true test lies in whether the US side can genuinely follow through on implementation," Dong said.