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U.S., China Economic Chiefs Open Paris Talks to Set Stage for Late‑March Trump–Xi Summit

Fresh U.S. probes plus energy shocks have lowered ambitions to modest commercial steps.

Overview

  • Talks at the OECD headquarters bring together Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to prepare for President Trump’s planned Beijing visit.
  • The agenda targets U.S. tariff shifts, access to Chinese rare earths and magnets, American high‑tech export controls, and Chinese purchases of U.S. farm goods.
  • Officials will review implementation of the October 2025 Busan truce that cut some U.S. tariffs, paused Chinese rare‑earth export curbs, and set large soybean purchase goals.
  • Washington’s new Section 301 and forced‑labor investigations could lead to fresh tariffs or import bans, which Beijing has denounced as complicating factors for the talks.
  • Energy strains from the Iran war frame the discussions, with Bessent granting a 30‑day waiver to sell stranded Russian oil and the U.S. urging partners to help safeguard Hormuz shipping.