Beijing ? China took steps Friday to let its currency appreciate faster against the dollar and to cool its sizzling economy ahead of what are expected to be contentious talks in Washington over Beijing’s soaring trade surplus.

American officials hope a stronger yuan will help to narrow the multibillion-dollar U.S. trade deficit with China by making Chinese goods more expensive. But the Chinese central bank cautioned that the latest change will not lead to “large appreciations” for the yuan.

Also Friday, China raised interest rates for the second time in more than two months and tightened access to credit in an effort to cool its sizzling economy.