Washington, DC, USA

A day after US tariffs came into effect on Chinese goods, US and Chinese negotiators met in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday to find the impasse over tit-for-tat tariff war.

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The Chinese delegation led by Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen and US Treasury under secretary David Malpass, however, ended the meeting without any breakthrough.

The two sides will keep in contact "regarding future plans", the Chinese commerce ministry said, adding,"Chinese and US negotiators held constructive and frank trade talks in Washington this week." 

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On Thursday, US customs began to collect extra 25 per cent duties on 279 Chinese import product categories valued at $16 billion. China hit back with its trade measures on the US with a list of $16 billion worth of imports from the United States.

Trump administrations latest tariffs apply to semiconductors, plastics, chemicals and railway equipment. 

China has listed 333 US product categories which it has decided to hit with duties which include coal, copper scrap, fuel, steel products, buses and medical equipment.

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President Trump has threatened to impose duties on $500 billion Chinese goods exported annually to the United States.

Meanwhile, US-Mexico talks on new auto industry rules under North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement were poised to continue next week after  Mexico's economy minister Ildefonso Guajardo said friction persists over the threat of more restrictive US import rules.

US and Mexican officials say they will push for a deal that could open the door for Canada to return.

"We need to get an engagement with Canada and the only way that can happen is if we continue through the weekend and into next week," Guajardo said.