President Donald Trump has dispatched key officials to London for high-level trade negotiations with China, following a significant phone call with President Xi Jinping. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with Chinese representatives on Monday, June 9, 2025, to address ongoing trade tensions, particularly concerning tariffs and rare earth mineral exports.
The upcoming talks come after a 90-minute conversation between Trump and Xi, initiated by the U.S. president. Trump described the discussion as productive, noting that complexities around rare earths had been resolved and that both leaders agreed to schedule a new round of trade talks. However, China’s official account emphasized calls for the U.S. to remove disruptive “negative” measures, revealing a disparity in narratives.
The delegation’s mission is to negotiate a resolution to the trade war that has escalated over the past two months, with the U.S. imposing tariffs up to 145% on Chinese goods and China retaliating with 125% tariffs on U.S. exports. The outcome of these negotiations is critical for the global economy and U.S. consumers, as many products sold in the U.S. originate from China. Retailers have expressed concern that persistently high tariffs may disrupt supply chains, potentially causing product shortages and higher prices for American shoppers.
The meeting in London marks a significant step in efforts to de-escalate trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Analysts remain cautious, noting that while the resumption of talks is a positive development, the complexities of the trade issues at hand may pose challenges to reaching a lasting agreement.
