BEIJING (AP) — China's commerce ministry says U.S. officials will be in Beijing next week for the next round of high-level trade talks.

Ministry spokesman Gao Feng says U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will be in China next Thursday and Friday for the eighth round of negotiations.

Gao added Thursday that Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will meet with officials in Washington in April.

The tariff dispute began last year after the U.S. brought a number of complaints, including that China engaged in theft of U.S. trade secrets and forced companies to transfer technology in exchange for access to its market.