Overview
- China confirmed Vice-Premier He Lifeng will travel March 14–17 for consultations, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meeting him March 15–16 in Paris and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attending.
- Washington has launched Section 301 investigations into excess industrial capacity and forced labor that name China among targets, a process that can take months and could justify new tariffs.
- Beijing denounced the probes as unilateral and rejected U.S. forced‑labor allegations, urging Washington to reverse what it called erroneous practices.
- The Paris talks are expected to shape possible deliverables for President Trump's planned March 31–April 2 visit to Beijing, with reporting pointing to commercial purchases and clarity on tech export controls rather than sweeping breakthroughs.
- The push comes after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's broader reciprocal‑tariff authority, and the negotiations unfold as regional energy risks from the Iran conflict complicate Beijing's calculus.