Top US and Chinese officials held “remarkably stable” talks in Paris, discussing increased agricultural purchases and potential new mechanisms to manage trade and investment before a planned Trump–Xi meeting in Beijing
Officials from the United States and China held “remarkably stable” economic talks in Paris on Sunday, exploring potential agreements on agricultural trade, critical minerals and mechanisms to manage bilateral commerce, Reuters reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the talks were led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting aimed to develop potential outcomes that could be finalised during Trump’s expected visit to Beijing at the end of March.
The report described the discussions as “candid and constructive”, saying they could lead to concrete deliverables for the leaders to consider. However, any proposals would ultimately require approval from Trump and Xi.
China signals openness to more US farm imports
Chinese officials signalled openness to purchasing additional American agricultural products, including poultry, beef and certain row crops other than soybeans, the report said.
China is also said to remain committed to importing about 25 million metric tonnes of US soybeans annually for the next three years, a move that could help ease long-running trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The talks took place at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Chinese officials left the venue without speaking to reporters.
The meeting followed several rounds of engagement last year involving Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, and China’s chief trade negotiator Li Chenggang, as Washington and Beijing sought to stabilise economic ties after years of tariff disputes and technology restrictions.
“All these meetings were to create stability, and today was remarkably stable,” one source told Reuters.
Proposal for new trade management bodies
A key focus of the discussions was the creation of formal mechanisms to help manage trade and investment flows between the two economies.
The report said technical talks were scheduled for Monday on proposals for a US–China “Board of Trade” and “Board of Investment.”
The Board of Trade concept is reportedly the more developed proposal. It would identify sectors and products where bilateral trade could expand in a balanced manner without threatening national security or disrupting sensitive supply chains.
The Board of Investment, by contrast, would not set overarching investment rules but would address specific disputes or issues that arise between companies and regulators in the two countries.
Critical minerals and aerospace concerns
US officials also raised concerns about the supply of Chinese-produced critical minerals to American companies.
In particular, Washington highlighted limited access for the US aerospace industry to yttrium, a mineral used in jet engine turbines and other high-performance technologies.
The report said negotiators “found some ways to loosen up” challenges in this area, though details were not disclosed.
Energy and aviation purchases discussed
US negotiators also pushed for China to increase purchases of American energy and aviation products.
Officials from Washington emphasised the US interest in greater Chinese orders for aircraft from Boeing, as well as imports of US coal, oil and natural gas. These topics were expected to remain under discussion in follow-up meetings.
If agreements emerge, they could become central elements of the upcoming Trump–Xi summit in Beijing, which both sides hope will help stabilise economic relations and reduce friction in global trade.
End of Article
Leave a Reply