Senior US and Chinese officials meet in Paris for crucial trade discussions, aiming to stabilise relations ahead of a potential Trump visit to China.
PARIS: Top US and Chinese economic officials began a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday. The discussions aim to resolve trade disputes and create a stable atmosphere for an upcoming summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are leading the negotiations. The talks are expected to cover US tariffs, Chinese rare earth exports, American high-tech export controls and Chinese purchases of US farm goods.
Analysts see little prospect for a major breakthrough due to shortened preparation time. Washington’s focus is also diverted by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
“Both sides, I think have a minimum goal of having a meeting, which sort of keeps things together and avoids a rupture and re-escalation of tensions,” said Scott Kennedy from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The officials will review progress under an October 2025 trade truce declared in Busan. That deal trimmed US tariffs and paused Chinese export controls on rare earths for a year.
China also agreed to buy millions of metric tons of US soybeans. US officials state that China has so far met its initial purchase commitments under the deal.
However, US aerospace and semiconductor firms face worsening shortages of key Chinese rare earth materials. “U.S. priorities will likely be about agricultural purchases by China and greater access to Chinese rare earths in the short term,” said William Chou of the Hudson Institute.
New US trade investigations add a fresh irritant to the negotiations. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has launched probes into alleged unfair trade practices and forced labour.
These probes could lead to a new round of tariffs within months. China has denounced the investigations and reserved the right to take countermeasures.
The war in Iran is also likely to be discussed, particularly regarding oil price spikes and shipping security. Trump recently urged nations to help protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Meaningful” progress in Sino-US economic cooperation could restore global confidence, China’s Xinhua news agency said in a commentary. It added that achieving progress largely depends on the US adopting a rational and pragmatic mindset.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in Beijing at the end of March. They could potentially meet three other times later this year at major international summits.
