Donald Trump announced Friday that London would serve as the venue for the next round of US-China trade negotiations on Monday, with senior US officials meeting a Chinese delegation. This crucial meeting follows a “very positive” phone call on Thursday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, focused on addressing the ongoing tariff dispute and issues related to rare earth minerals.
The US team will be composed of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump conveyed his confidence in the talks via social media, stating, “The meeting should go very well,” suggesting a positive trajectory for the discussions.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that President Trump initiated the hour-and-a-half long discussion with President Xi. During their conversation, President Xi reportedly pressed Trump to “remove the negative measures” that the United States has enacted against China, reflecting Beijing’s key demand.
Adding an unexpected dimension, the ministry also reported that Trump said “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 illustrates the complex interplay of trade and diplomatic considerations.