US-China Trade Talks to Proceed Despite Geopolitical Tensions, Paving Way for Trump-Xi Summit
Paris – High-level trade negotiations between the United States and China are scheduled to take place in Paris later next week, signaling continued momentum toward a planned summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, sources familiar with the matter confirmed. The talks will proceed despite recent American military action against Iran, highlighting the priority both nations place on stabilizing economic relations.
The meeting will include US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng. Discussions are expected to center on potential business agreements that could emerge from the anticipated Trump-Xi meeting. While the timing and location remain subject to change, the planned discussions underscore a commitment to dialogue despite ongoing global uncertainties.
Several key issues are expected to be on the agenda, including a potential Chinese purchase of Boeing aircraft and commitments to increase imports of US soybeans. A particularly sensitive topic will be Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but opposes any forceful attempts to alter its status and remains committed to providing the island with defensive weaponry.
The future of US tariffs on fentanyl, recently struck down by the Supreme Court, will also be discussed, according to sources.
This development follows a meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi in Busan in October 2025, where they agreed to maintain regular communication. President Trump reportedly expressed interest in visiting China in the coming year, and extended an invitation to President Xi to visit the United States.
The upcoming trade talks are seen as a crucial step in preparing for the leaders’ summit, aiming to establish a framework for addressing trade imbalances and broader economic concerns. The meeting between Bessent, Greer, and He Lifeng is intended to lay the groundwork for concrete agreements that could be announced during the Trump-Xi summit.