U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that he envisions a "positive agenda" on trade with China moving forward, amid a yearslong tariff battle between the two countries.
"The Chinese want stability. We want stability," Greer told host Annmarie Hordern on "Bloomberg Surveillance." "I actually see a positive agenda with China going forward where we learn to manage our trade with each other, where we pick the kinds of things we want to be selling to each other, things that are mostly not sensitive to avoid some of the national security elements that prove challenging in negotiations."
The trade representative also noted that he sees this "stability" with China "over the next year."
President Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15 in Beijing, a summit that was pushed back due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Trump also said earlier this month that Xi will visit the U.S. in the "not too distant future."
Greer noted Tuesday that he does not envision meeting with his Chinese counterparts before the meeting between Trump and Xi.
Last month, the Supreme Court struck down the president's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including those on Chinese imports. In issuing levies on goods from China and dozens of other nations last year, Trump declared national emergencies related to the trafficking of fentanyl and the U.S. trade deficit.
After the high court's ruling, Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on imports from countries around the world under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for tariffs of up to 15 percent to address "large and serious" trade deficits for no more than 150 days. Congress would need to approve an extension after the 150-day period ends on July 24.
Greer, meanwhile, opened probes earlier this month into the tax policies and practices of numerous foreign partners, including China, the European Union, Japan, Mexico and India, under Section 301 of the Trade Act. That clause allows the president to implement tariffs in response to "unjustifiable," "unreasonable" or discriminatory" trade practices by other countries.
In response, the Chinese Commerce Ministry launched two investigations into U.S. trade practices last week, according to The Associated Press.
On Tuesday, Greer said he cannot "prejudge" the investigations into unfair trade practices, but vowed that the administration is prioritizing American firms "so we can continue to have increased production in the U.S. [and] increased wages."