The New York Times reports: "China said on Monday that it will lower tariffs on a variety of goods imported from around the world starting on Jan. 1, moving to support domestic consumers even as a trade truce with the United States has relieved some of the pressure on the Chinese economy. The action, less than two weeks after Beijing and the Trump administration reached a partial deal to end their trade war, also helps China buttress its assertions that it has continued to open up its market despite the long-running conflict with the United States. The stopgap trade pact reached this month forestalled one last round of American tariffs that would have extended levies to cover nearly every shoe, laptop and toy that the United States imports from China. But the deal still leaves many question marks over China's economy, which has slowed as the tariff conflict has dragged on. With many tariffs on American products still in place, China needs to keep trading with other nations to satisfy its people's demands for imported goods."
Reuters reports: "U.S. trade, economic and scientific restrictions on China and 'smears' against its sovereignty are impacting global stability and development, the Chinese government's top diplomat said in comments published on Monday. Even as the world's two largest economies have taken steps to cool a bitter trade war, they remain far apart on a string of issues including anti-government protests in Hong Kong, Syria, human rights and the status of Chinese-claimed Taiwan. China has been particularly upset by criticism from senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, of China's ruling Communist Party and of the country's treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority. The United States says it is determined to speak out about human rights abuses in China, re-balance what it sees as a mismatched trade relationship and stop potential national security threats with restrictions on Chinese companies such as tech giant Huawei."
The Washington Post reports: "The leaders of South Korea and China said Monday that they look forward to improved ties following a protracted disagreement over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system that Beijing considers a threat. South Korean President Moon Jae-in told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that while the sides may have felt 'disappointed toward each other for a while,' their shared culture and history prevented them from becoming completely estranged. 'It is hoped that South Korea's dream becomes helpful for China as China's dream becomes an opportunity for South Korea,' Moon said in opening remarks before reporters were ushered from the room. In his opening comments at the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in the center of Beijing, Xi described China and South Korea as 'countries of substance and influence in Asia and throughout the world.'"