China said it will exempt U.S.-produced soybeans, pork and other agricultural products from additional import tariffs and encouraged domestic companies to import a certain amount of the products in adherence to market principles and guidelines by the World Trade Organization, state media Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Custom Tariff Commission of the State Council will include the products in its exemption list, Xinhua said, citing the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce.
The update comes after U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 11 said he would delay additional tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods from Oct. 1-15 as a goodwill gesture, in return for China's move to exempt a number of U.S. products from tariffs until the next year. China had added it may consider releasing additional exclusion lists, if needed.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that private Chinese traders purchased more than 600,000 tons of soybeans from the U.S. on Sept. 12.
The two sides are set to have face-to-face trade discussions in October. Trump said he favors a "whole deal" with China instead of an agreement in parts but "would consider" an interim deal, which was reportedly proposed by his top trade advisers.
