China and the United States held two days of talks, which concluded Tuesday, aimed at reaching a deal to prevent the reimposition of sky-high tariff rates that threatened to cripple bilateral trade before a 90-day truce was agreed in May.

That agreement is due to expire on August 12. But there are indications that both sides want to push the date back further.

The truce has set US duties on Chinese goods at 30 percent, while Chinese levies on American products stand at 10 percent.

Despite bilateral relations going through "wind and rain", China and the United States "remain important economic and trade partners", Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told the delegation, headed by FedEx CEO and chair of the US-China Business Council Rajesh Subramaniam.

"Decoupling and cutting links won't work. Equal dialogue and consultation are the key to resolving differences," Wang said, according to a commerce ministry statement.

"China welcomes companies from all countries, including US companies, to invest in China."

US President Donald Trump has imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on allies and competitors alike, alongside steeper levels on steel, aluminium and autos.

Before their truce, the United States and China had levelled triple-digit levies against each other's goods as a trade war sparked by Trump spiralled into a tit-for-tat escalation.