(The Epoch Times)—China’s communist regime said on May 23 that it would continue talks with the U.S. government to stabilize their bilateral relationship as both sides work to resolve trade disputes.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu spoke via phone with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on May 22 to address “important issues of common concern,” according to a readout issued by the regime’s foreign ministry.
The officials also exchanged views on U.S.-China relations and agreed on the need to continue to maintain communication, the ministry stated, without providing further details.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also confirmed the phone discussion between the two officials, saying the talks covered “a wide range of issues of mutual interest” but did not provide specifics.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of the bilateral relationship to their people and the world, and agreed to keep lines of communication open, she said in a statement.
90-Day Pause
The two nations agreed in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 12 to establish a mechanism for further discussions on economic and trade issues. The aim was to de-escalate trade tensions that resulted from the imposition of substantial tariffs on each other in recent months.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both sides reached an agreement to temporarily pause their trade measures on one another and cut reciprocal tariffs for 90 days.
Under the agreement, the United States and China will each reduce tariffs by 115 percentage points while retaining an additional 10 percent tariff on each other’s imports, according to a fact sheet issued by the White House.
As a result, the U.S. reciprocal tariff rate on Chinese imports dropped from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China lowered its tariffs on U.S. goods from 125 percent to 10 percent.
President Donald Trump imposed those tariffs on imports from China and other trade partners in an effort to close trade deficits and address what he described as unfair trade practices against the United States.
In a fact sheet released following the deal, the White House stated that the U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $295.4 billion last year, marking “the largest with any trading partner.” The agreement is expected to address this trade imbalance, it stated.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has stated that the high tariffs have “severely damaged normal bilateral trade and disrupted the international economic and trade order.”
On May 21, the U.S. delegation at the World Trade Organization (WTO) urged member states to address failures in commercial relations that it said had led to huge trade deficits, and called for urgent reforms to the WTO system.
“The multilateral trading system, as currently constructed, has been unable to address the serious challenges that face the system,” the delegation said in a statement.
The United States claimed that WTO members had not addressed severe trade imbalances and non-market policies that it described as contrary to WTO principles.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.