President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that London would be the site for the next round of US-China trade negotiations, set for Monday. This significant announcement follows a “very positive” phone conversation on Thursday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed at resolving the contentious issues of tariffs and global rare earth supplies.
The US delegation will consist of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump, expressing optimism on his social media platform, stated, “The meeting should go very well,” signaling a hopeful path forward for the strained trade relationship.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, President Trump initiated the approximately 90-minute call with President Xi. During their discussion, President Xi reportedly urged Trump to “remove the negative measures” that the US has taken against China, articulating Beijing’s primary concern.
In a noteworthy detail, the ministry also reported that Trump expressed during the call that “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,” despite his administration’s recent rhetoric about revoking some student visas. This adds a layer of complexity to the diplomatic dialogue between the two nations.