US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez ( L ) and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi attend a news conference following the annual meeting of the US-China Joint Comission on Commerce and Trade in Washington on April 11, 2006. According to a joint statement from US and Chinese officials, in order to help reduce a massive trade gap, Beijing has agreed to lift a ban on US beef imports.
![US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez (L), Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (C) and US Trade Representative Rob Portman attend a news conference following the annual meeting of the US-China Joint Comission on Commerce and Trade in Washington April 11, 2006. [Reuters]](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-04/12/xin_040403120942596001513.jpg)
