"During the discussion, the two sides had frank exchange of views on the differences in the area of bilateral trade and in-depth discussion on the potential of expansion of cooperation in certain areas.
The two sides agreed to further enhance the cooperation in the areas of agricultural products, energy, health, hi-tech products and finance. China has firmly safeguarded its own core interests by not making promise on the detailed amount of reduction of the trade deficit with the US."
Japan's minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshige Seko, said Japan, which accounts for about 40 percent of U.S. vehicle imports, will continue to remind U.S. officials that any trade measures must be in line with the rules of the World Trade Organization.
If such a measure is taken, "it would be an extremely far-reaching trade sanction that would put the global market into turmoil," Seko said. "We are extremely concerned."
President Donald Trump invoked a provision authorizing the president to restrict imports and impose unlimited tariffs on national security grounds, known as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
The move comes as talks with Canada and Mexico over the North American Free Trade Agreement have stalled.
In Beijing, Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters that abusing national security provisions would "undermine the multilateral trade system and disrupt the order of international trade."
"China will pay close attention to the progress of the U.S. investigation, conduct a comprehensive assessment of the possible impact and firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests," Gao told reporters at a news conference.
