China said on Wednesday that it would exempt some US imports from tariffs as Beijing and Washington prepare to restart trade talks next month — but will keep the penalties on farm-friendly goods soybeans, corn and pork.

Among the 16 US-made products under exemptions are lubricants, fish meal and whey for animal feed and some anti-cancer drugs, the Chinese Ministry of Finance said.

But penalties on corn, pork and soybeans — farm products that have taken a hit because of the escalating tariff war — remain in effect.

President Trump said China “did the right thing” by removing some tariffs.

“I think is was a gesture,” he told reporters at the White House.

State-run media outlet Xinhua said the one-year exemptions reflect China’s “calmness and rationality in dealing with economic and trade frictions. … Highly responsible.”

The US and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war affecting billions of dollars in goods.

The Trump administration on the first of September imposed 15% tariffs on $115 billion worth of Chinese goods and will launch another round of penalties on Dec. 15.

China retaliated by placing tariffs on $75 billion worth of US imports.

The negotiations in early October would be the first since talks broke down in May.

With Post wires