The delegation will be led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The top priority for this first meeting appears to be securing Beijing's approval to buy more American agricultural products, something that Beijing "appears willing to do as a goodwill gesture," White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told reporters on Tuesday.

"They are indicating that they are looking at purchases of agriculture," Mr. Kudlow said. "We hope strongly that China will very soon start buying agriculture products."

Earlier on Wednesday, Reuters reported that Beijing had started the process of exempting firms from the agricultural tariffs, but the Chinese soybean processors who use the beans to create feed for pigs and other livestock are "unlikely to buy in bulk from the US any time soon." China imposed a 25% tariff on US soybeans last year in retaliation for tariffs handed down by Washington.