MOSCOW (Sputnik) On April 2, Trump signed an executive order introducing "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from other countries. The baseline rate was set at 10%, while dozens of countries were hit with higher rates. The duties on most countries were reversed to 10% days later to allow for trade negotiations, while those on China were hiked to 145%.
The United States and China have started "soft" communications on tariffs and other trade issues through intermediaries, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday.
"I think we have had soft — the way I would say this is soft entrees, you know, through intermediaries," Lutnick told ABC News when asked about whether Washington and China had recently had any contacts regarding their trade relations.