Trump administration relaunches trade talks with China

The Trump administration’s trade delegation restarted negotiations on Monday with Chinese representatives in London. The American delegation included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to the White House’s Friday announcement. President Donald Trump first announced the meeting in a Friday afternoon statement, saying he expected the meeting to go very well.

Trump touched on a number of foreign relations topics during a Thursday phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Embassy in the United States said late last week. The pair discussed steering the U.S.-Chinese relations on a better course, the economic strides made while meeting in Geneva last month, and concerns about American involvement in Taiwan. President Xi also invited Trump to again visit China, the statement added. Trump previously visited the country in November 2017, during his first term as president.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng planned to hold an economic trade consultation with American trade representatives during his time in the United Kingdom, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said last week. Footage showed Lifeng arriving on Downing Street to meet with British Chancellor of Exchequer Rachel Reeves on Sunday. Footage also showed a U.K. Foreign Office staffer greeting Lifeng, Bessent, Lutnick, and Greer as they arrived at the Lancaster House in London Monday morning.

What will they talk about? Both countries agreed to roll back tariffs for about three months at their last meeting in May. It remains unclear whether officials plan to extend the rollback or renegotiate rates. Chinese rare earth exports are expected to be discussed, along with America’s export of computer chips to Beijing.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report for more background on the last trade deal brokered by the United States and China in Switzerland.