Donald Trump announced on Friday that London will host the next round of US-China trade negotiations on Monday, with senior US officials meeting a Chinese delegation. This crucial development comes after a “very positive” phone call on Thursday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which they sought to break the impasse on tariffs and rare earth minerals.
The US team will be comprised of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump conveyed his high hopes for the talks via social media, stating, “The meeting should go very well,” suggesting a positive outlook for the negotiations.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that President Trump initiated the hour-and-a-half discussion with President Xi. During their conversation, President Xi reportedly requested that Trump “remove the negative measures” that the US has implemented against China, underscoring Beijing’s demands.
Adding an unexpected dimension, the ministry also reported that Trump said “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,” a statement that seems at odds with his administration’s recent threats to revoke some of their visas. This highlights the nuanced and sometimes contradictory nature of US foreign policy.
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