Beijing has pledged to pursue reciprocal tariff reductions with Washington even as it imposed new restrictions on dozens of American firms, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

China's Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said both sides will continue consultations within the framework of a newly established trade board. Mr He added that the two countries will encourage cooperation in aircraft and agricultural products.

The overture follows a proposal last week by China's ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, to expand tariff-free trade tenfold, raising the limit from US$30 billion to $300 billion for non-sensitive goods.

Despite the cooperative signals, tensions remain. Beijing criticised Washington's expansion of the Pentagon's Chinese Military Companies List, saying it seriously harms Chinese enterprises.

The ministry said economic and trade teams from both sides will carry out further consultations, underscoring how cooperation and confrontation continue to run in parallel between the world's two largest economies.