China and the US on Monday held their first face-to-face negotiations in Beijing to ease a bitter trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on more than 300 billion US dollars of each other’s goods.

Last year, US President Donald Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on 250 billion US dollar of Chinese goods.

The move prompted China to increase tariffs on 110 billion US dollars of US goods. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1.

Deputy US trade representative Jeffrey Gerrish is leading the US delegation at the two-day talks with Chinese vice-ministerial counterparts.