By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

The rollercoaster relationship between the United States and China appeared to improve in mid-September amid mid-level trade talks in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office said the discussions were aimed at improving the trade relationship between the two countries.

“These discussions were productive, and the United States looks forward to welcoming a delegation from China for principal-level meetings in October,” the USTR office said Friday, Sept. 20.

Xinhua news reported Chinese officials felt the talks were “constructive.”

A Federal Register notice issued the last day of the talks lifted retaliatory tariffs on more than 430 Chinese exports to the U.S. including dog leashes, laminated wood flooring panels, select computer parts, some fuel pumps and aluminum radiators and mini-Christmas lights.

The items were all on a list of $200 billion in Chinese exports to the U.S. with a 25 percent duty.

The Chinese delegation was set to visit U.S. farms in Montana and Nebraska the week after the talks, but officials announced Friday the tours had been cancelled and the delegation was returning to China sooner than expected.

The announcement shook the stock market, sending many commodity stocks lower.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters despite the cancellation, talks with China are going well.

“We’re making a lot of progress on China,” he said. “They’re having a very bad year. Worst year in 57 years. The tariffs are coming into us. We’re taking in billions and billions of dollars of tariffs.”

According to Reuters, the president said China agreeing to buy more U.S. agricultural goods is not enough.

He also indicated he’d prefer a full trade agreement with China in lieu of a partial deal.

“So China wants to make a deal. I think we want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said.

The 25 percent tariff the U.S. currently levies on $250 billion in Chinese exports to the U.S. is set to rise to 30 percent Oct. 15.