Key US Officials to Meet with Chinese Representatives
Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, announced on Friday that three members of his cabinet will meet with Chinese representatives in London on June 9th to discuss a potential trade deal.
The Participants
- Scott Bessent: Secretary of the Treasury
- Howard Lutnick: Secretary of Commerce
- Jamieson Greer: Trade Representative and Ambassador
“The meeting should go very well,” Trump wrote.
Context and Background
This announcement comes a day after Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping in an unusual leaders’ call amid escalating trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals.
The countries reached a 90-day agreement on May 12th to reduce some of the three-digit tariffs imposed on each other since Trump’s inauguration in January.
While stocks rose, the temporary agreement did not address broader concerns straining the bilateral relationship, including illicit fentanyl trafficking, Taiwan’s democratic status, and US complaints about China’s state-dominated export-oriented economic model.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the US officials mentioned? The officials are Scott Bessent (Secretary of the Treasury), Howard Lutnick (Secretary of Commerce), and Jamieson Greer (Trade Representative and Ambassador).
- When and where will the meeting take place? The meeting is scheduled for June 9th in London.
- What is the purpose of the meeting? The primary objective is to discuss a potential trade deal between the United States and China.
- What recent developments led to this meeting? Escalating trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals prompted this meeting, following an unusual conversation between Trump and Xi Jinping.
- What were the outcomes of the previous agreement between the US and China? The countries agreed on a 90-day truce to reduce some tariffs, but this temporary measure did not address broader issues affecting their relationship.
