China says discussed with U.S. in Shanghai why earlier trade talks broke down

China's commerce ministry said on Thursday that Chinese and U.S. negotiators discussed topics including why previous trade talks broke down and principles for future talks during a meeting in Shanghai this week.

China and the United States can find a solution to trade issues if both sides' concerns are taken into consideration, Gao Feng, a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce, told a news briefing responding to a question on when the countries' protracted trade war will end.

U.S. and Chinese negotiators ended a brief round of trade talks on Wednesday with little sign of progress and agreed to meet again in September. It was their first in-person talks since a G20 truce in June as both sides try to find a way out of the year-long dispute.