China in close communication with U.S. over October trade talks - Commerce ministry.

China and the United States are still discussing details about upcoming trade talks in October, making preparations to ensure “positive progress” is made during the negotiations, the Chinese commerce ministry.

The countries’ trade negotiators are expected to meet in Washington in about two weeks to determine if they can start to chart a path out of their bruising trade war or are headed for new and higher tariffs on each others’ goods.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday a deal to end a nearly 15-month trade war with China could happen sooner than people think and that the Chinese were making big agricultural purchases from the United States, including of beef and pork.

On Thursday, Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng also said Chinese firms have made significant purchases of U.S. soybeans and pork, adding that those purchases were exempt from tariffs.

China and the United States complement each other in agriculture and there is ample room for further “cooperation” as Chinese demand for quality agricultural products is high, Gao said.

“We hope both sides can work together and take tangible actions to create favorable conditions for such cooperation,” he said.