LONDON – Delegates from the United States and China are convening in London on Monday to reinforce a tenuous ceasefire in their ongoing trade conflict, which has disrupted the global economy.
The Chinese team, led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, will engage with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a secure location within the city.
The talks are due to last at least a day.
This meeting comes after talks in Geneva last month, which resulted in a temporary pause in hostilities. On May 12, both nations declared a 90-day halt on the extensive tariffs exceeding 100% they had been imposing on each other in the trade battle that had raised concerns of an impending recession.
Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, “rare earths” that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities.
President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London.
The U.K. government says it is providing the venue and logistics but is not involved in the talks.
“We are a nation that champions free trade and have always been clear that a trade war is in nobody’s interests, so we welcome these talks,” the British government said in a statement.
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