Senior economic officials from the United States and China were expected to conclude trade discussions in Paris on Monday, with talks focusing on agriculture, critical minerals and mechanisms to manage bilateral trade ahead of a possible summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the negotiations—led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng—were “remarkably stable” and aimed at identifying potential agreements that could be finalized during Trump’s expected visit to Beijing later this month. However, the final decisions would rest with the two leaders.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump suggested the planned summit could be postponed as he presses Beijing to help address tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route currently affected by the Iran conflict.
Delegations from both countries held more than six hours of discussions on Sunday at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development. During the talks, China signaled openness to increasing purchases of U.S. agricultural products, including poultry, beef and other crops. Beijing also reaffirmed its commitment to buy 25 million metric tons of American soybeans annually for the next three years under the October 2025 Trump-Xi trade truce.
Officials also discussed creating new mechanisms to better manage trade and investment ties between the world’s two largest economies. Proposals included establishing a “Board of Trade” and a “Board of Investment,” which would help resolve specific economic issues and identify sectors where trade could expand without threatening national security or supply chains.
Another key focus of the talks was the supply of critical minerals from China to U.S. companies. American officials raised concerns about limited access to materials such as yttrium, which is used in jet engine turbines and other advanced technologies. Both sides reportedly explored possible ways to ease restrictions in this area.
The U.S. delegation also urged China to boost purchases of American goods, including Boeing aircraft, coal, oil and natural gas. However, analysts say significant breakthroughs may be limited in the short term, as Washington’s attention is partly focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Experts believe that if Trump and Xi meet several times this year—including at potential gatherings such as the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the G20 summit—any agreements reached in Paris could be gradually finalized and implemented over the coming months.
