Beijing said it would issue an improved foreign investment “negative list” by June 30, meeting a key US demand just 48 hours before US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross is due in Beijing to lead a third round of trade talks with vice premier Liu He.
China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday that the new list would ease or cancel existing restrictions on foreign investment in sectors including energy and transportation.
China’s so called negative list identifies areas that are off-limits to foreign investors — sectors not included on the list are open to foreign investment. The US government and business community has been increasing pressure on China to remove investment restrictions on targeted areas.