Senior officials from the United States and China will meet in London on Monday, June 9, marking the latest effort to resolve long-standing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The high-level negotiations were announced after a 90-minute phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Both leaders described the call as constructive and expressed optimism about the upcoming talks.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the American side. China is sending a team of senior officials with a mandate to address key sticking points, including tariffs and access to critical minerals.
A central issue on the agenda is the global supply of rare earth minerals, which are vital for advanced manufacturing and defense technology. President Trump said President Xi agreed to resume exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, a move that could provide relief to American manufacturers. However, Chinese officials have not yet publicly confirmed this commitment.
The London meeting follows a recent agreement in Geneva, where both sides pledged to roll back some of the tariffs that have hampered bilateral trade in recent years. Despite this progress, several contentious issues remain, such as US restrictions on Chinese semiconductors and ongoing disputes over technology transfers and student visas.
President Trump expressed confidence in the negotiations, writing on social media, “The meeting should go very well.” Both leaders have also invited each other for future visits, signaling a willingness to keep diplomatic channels open.
Global markets and industries that rely on stable US-China trade relations are closely watching the talks. With annual trade between the two nations totaling $582 billion, a breakthrough in London could have significant implications for the global economy.
