Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that London would host the next significant round of trade discussions between the United States and China on Monday. This development follows a “very positive” phone conversation between President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping on Thursday, focused on overcoming the current impasse regarding tariffs and the vital supply of rare earth minerals.
The US negotiating team will feature Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump conveyed his optimism for the upcoming talks via his social media platform, expressing that “The meeting should go very well,” suggesting a hopeful outlook for an agreement.
The Chinese foreign ministry reported that President Trump initiated the hour-and-a-half long call with President Xi. During their discussion, President Xi reportedly pressed Trump to “remove the negative measures” that the United States has enacted against China, reflecting Beijing’s demand for a fair trading environment.
Intriguingly, the ministry also quoted Trump saying “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,” despite his administration’s recent moves to potentially revoke some of their visas. This demonstrates the multifaceted dynamics at play in the US-China relationship.