US-China trade talks resume! Trump announces meeting in London next week, rekindling hopes for negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday on Truth Social that the United States and China will restart trade negotiations in London next week.

U.S. High-Level Officials Gather in London to Discuss Next Trade Plan

Trump stated that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead a delegation to meet with Chinese officials in London on Monday. Accompanying officials include Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

"This meeting should go very smoothly," Trump wrote in his post, "Thank you all for your attention to this matter!"

The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has not yet commented on this.

High-Level Hotline Paves the Way, Xi-Trump Call Finalizes the Plan

In fact, Trump had already hinted at subsequent trade talks after a long phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. This London meeting is a direct result of that call.

Although U.S.-China relations showed slight easing after reaching a temporary tax reduction agreement in Geneva last month, differences continue to expand. The total bilateral trade last year reached $582 billion, but is now again stuck in a deadlock due to multiple policy frictions.

Beijing accused the U.S. of interfering with negotiation progress, particularly expressing dissatisfaction with the Commerce Department's warning about China's chip industry. Additionally, the Trump administration's recent announcement to revoke some Chinese students' visas has provoked strong protests from China.

Rare Earth Dispute Becomes Focal Point, Bilateral Cooperation Tested Again

Besides chip and educational exchange disputes, rare earth mineral exports are also one of the core issues of confrontation. Although China promised to increase rare earth exports during the Geneva negotiations, the U.S. recently accused Beijing of "delaying implementation of commitments".

Trump also posted after his call with Xi Jinping: "There should now be no doubt about the complexity of rare earth products." However, he did not specify the meaning of this statement, sparking more speculation.

London Negotiations a Turning Point? Various Sectors Observe Subsequent Developments

This London meeting is seen as a critical moment that might bring a breakthrough in the bilateral trade war. Although previous U.S.-China negotiations have not completely resolved disputes, high-level direct communication still leaves room for future cooperation.

Subsequent developments will depend on whether the meeting's results can resolve major disputes and lay the foundation for restoring stable trade relations between the two countries.