US-China trade negotiations scheduled for Monday in London, as announced by Donald Trump concerning customs duties.
What's Happening between Washington and Beijing?
Well, buckle up folks, cause it's time for another round of trade talks between the US and China! After a chat with Xi Jinping, ol' Trump himself announced that a fresh round of discussions was set to take place in London on June 6, with the US delegation ready to roll, consisting of Finance Minister Scott Bessent, Commerce Minister Howard Lutnick, and Commerce Representative Jamieson Greer.
According to Trump's Truth Social network, he's pretty hopeful about this sit-down. "This meeting should go very well," he beamed, no doubt channeling his signature macho swagger.
This wouldn't be the first time the US and China held discussions since Trump's return to the White House. They already had a tete-a-tete in Geneva, Switzerland in mid-May, which put a temporary halt to their trade war, the old ruckus that started back in springtime.
Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer were part of that original US delegation too, you know. Post-negotiations, they agreed to scale back tariffs on Chinese products from an eye-popping 145% down to a more reasonable 30%. In return, China promised to dial back its tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% for a cool 90 days[4].
Now, these two powers engaged in a tariff war following Trump's announcement back in early April about his so-called "reciprocal" tariffs. That move saw at least 10% slapped on all imported goods to the US, with Chinese products facing a whopping additional 34% surcharge[5][6]. Mind you, this added to the 20% imposed in the middle of the drug-fighting battle against fentanyl trafficking, plus pre-existing tariffs that had been in play since before Trump took office[7].
So there you have it! A fresh serving of US-China trade drama, served hot and steamy since June 6, 2022. But don't hold your breath for a major breakthrough - trade tensions continue to simmer, especially over tariffs, semiconductor technology, rare earth elements, and US visas for Chinese students[1][2][3]. Go figure!
- The upcoming US-China trade talks in London on June 6 will see the participation of French-American financier Scott Bessent, as well as Commerce Minister Howard Lutnick and Commerce Representative Jamieson Greer, discussing business matters and policy-and-legislation relating to the ongoing trade disputes.
- In light of the upcoming discussions, general news outlets are closely monitoring the negotiations, particularly focusing on the possible impact on finance, business, and politics between the two nations.
- This round of negotiations marks the second time the US and China have met since President Trump's return to the White House, and their discussions will also address tensions related to semiconductor technology, rare earth elements, and US visas for Chinese students, as these issues continue to pose challenges in the ongoing policy-and-legislation landscape.
