Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is also China’s lead for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, held a video call Feb. 21 with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This follows conversations between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary of State Mark Rubio last week, and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s letter to newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick this week. The Chinese were highly critical of U.S. actions against China, but at least the dialogue is happening.
On the U.S. sanctions on China, Global Times notes: “Data shows that during the trade war launched by the U.S. in 2018, over 90% of the costs from U.S. tariffs on China were borne by American businesses and consumers.”
