US, China Trade Chiefs Meet London Amid Rare-Earth Tensions

High-level trade talks between the United States and China are resuming in London amid efforts to salvage a fragile tariffs deal and prevent a full-scale trade war between the world's two largest economies. These discussions follow a temporary truce reached in Geneva, though both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement since then. Central topics include China's dominance over rare-earth minerals and advanced technology trade restrictions, which are critical to global supply chains and industries such as electronics and green energy. The U.S. delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, is meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to address these issues. Global financial markets, including major indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and FTSE350, are closely watching the outcome, as easing tensions could boost market confidence, while a deadlock might lead to further declines. These talks come amid broader economic concerns, including key U.S. inflation data and corporate earnings reports, which together shape the outlook for global economic stability and technological innovation.