Overview
- President Trump said he expects to travel to China in five or six weeks after postponing the late‑March summit.
- Senior trade officials described preparatory talks in Paris as constructive, though no breakthroughs were announced.
- Beijing has so far declined U.S. requests to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, consistent with its non‑interference policy.
- China has diversified oil supplies, built strategic reserves, continued buying Iranian and Russian crude, and kept tight controls on rare earth exports that experts say could pressure U.S. defense production.
- The Trump administration is weighing limited relief on Iranian oil sanctions to ease prices, a step analysts note could benefit China as a key buyer.