US, Chinese Officials Meet in London for High-Stakes Trade Talks

President Donald Trump announced that senior U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, will meet with Chinese representatives in London on June 9 to address ongoing trade disputes. This announcement followed a 90-minute phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Trump described as "very positive" and expressed optimism that the talks "should go very well." The negotiations aim to resolve issues surrounding tariffs and the supply of rare earth minerals, which are crucial for U.S. technology and defense sectors. Despite a previous May 12 agreement to roll back tariffs and ease tensions, both sides have accused each other of non-compliance, leading to stalled talks. The London talks are viewed as a critical step to potentially ease the protracted economic standoff that has global implications. Additional broader issues, including the fentanyl trade and Taiwan, remain unresolved and are expected to be part of ongoing discussions.