In a renewed effort to ease trade tensions, the United States and China are set to resume high-level negotiations in London on Monday, June 9, 2025.
US-China trade talk
Trump announced the upcoming talks on Friday, expressing optimism after what he described as a “very positive” 90-minute phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous day.
“I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference to the Trade Deal. The meeting should go very well. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”, read US President Donald Trump’s post on TruthSocial.
The American delegation will be led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. While China has not formally disclosed its delegation, previous rounds have been headed by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
This meeting follows a temporary 90-day agreement reached in May, which saw both countries drastically reduce tariffs on each other’s goods. The US cut its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China dropped its tariffs on American products from 125% to 10%. Despite this de-escalation, several contentious issues remain unresolved, including disputes over critical mineral exports, the fentanyl trade.
Focus on rare earth minerals and supply chains
A central topic in the London talks will be the global supply of rare earth minerals, which are vital for advanced manufacturing and defense technologies. China’s recent suspension of some rare earth exports to the US has heightened concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities. Both sides are expected to discuss mechanisms to ensure stable access to these resources, as well as broader trade imbalances and tariff structures.
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that President Trump initiated the recent phone call, during which Xi Jinping urged the US to lift “negative measures” targeting Beijing. In a diplomatic gesture, Trump also welcomed Chinese students to the US, despite ongoing visa restrictions.