Breakthrough Hope? Trump Sends Trade Team to London for China Talks

President Donald Trump announced Friday that a senior US delegation would meet with Chinese officials in London on Monday for the next round of trade negotiations. This eagerly anticipated meeting comes after a “very positive” phone call on Thursday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling renewed efforts to resolve the ongoing tariff dispute and discussions around global rare earth supplies.
The American side will be represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump shared his positive outlook on his social media platform, declaring, “The meeting should go very well,” indicating potential progress in the challenging trade relationship.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that President Trump initiated the 90-minute conversation with President Xi. During their talk, President Xi reportedly urged Trump to “remove the negative measures” that the US has taken against China, emphasizing Beijing’s desire for a less confrontational approach.
In a somewhat unexpected statement, the Chinese ministry also reported Trump’s remark that “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,” despite the administration’s consideration of revoking some student visas. This highlights the complex and often contradictory aspects of US foreign policy towards China.