U.S. trade officials met with Chinese counterparts in Paris this week to prepare for an upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.
The meetings serve as a critical diplomatic bridge to stabilize trade relations between the world's two largest economies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The outcome of these talks will likely set the agenda for the president's state visit to Beijing next month.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer led the American delegation during the bilateral discussions [1]. The talks began Sunday, May 10, and concluded Monday, May 12 [2, 3]. The two-day session [1] focused on paving the way for the high-level summit in China.
"The talks were very good," Bessent said [1].
Greer said the objective of the delegation was to ensure the economic relationship remains predictable. "The United States wants to maintain a stable trade relationship with China," Greer said [4].
The diplomatic effort comes as the U.S. prepares for a historic trip to Asia. The upcoming state visit will mark the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited China in nine years [5].
President Trump expressed optimism regarding the future engagement with the Chinese leader. "I look forward to a great meeting with President Xi," Trump said [4].
Officials in Paris worked to align priorities and resolve immediate friction points before the two heads of state meet in person. The discussions in France were designed to ensure that the Beijing summit begins with a framework for stability rather than immediate confrontation.
“"The talks were very good."”
The Paris meetings indicate a strategic attempt by the Trump administration to establish a baseline of stability before a high-stakes personal summit. By deploying the Treasury Secretary and the Trade Representative together, the U.S. is signaling that the upcoming Beijing visit will prioritize economic and financial frameworks, attempting to decouple trade stability from broader geopolitical disputes.
