The US and China begin a key round of consultations in Paris to curb the tariff escalation ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

 

In an effort to stabilize the global trade, Representatives of Estados Unidos y China have started in París a round of fundamental economic consultations to avoid a new commercial war before the summit between Donald Trump y Xi Jinping.

 

Strategic negotiations at the OECD headquarters

 

The meetings, which are held at the headquarters of the OCDE (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), constitute the sixth round of consultations since 2025. The central objective is to pave the way for the president's official visit Donald Trump a Pekín, scheduled between March 31 and April 2 of this year.

 

The US delegation is headed by the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, and includes the participation of the sales representative, Jamieson GreerOn the Asian side, the talks are being led by the Chinese vice premier, He Lifeng, who is leading an official delegation in Francia 14 to 17 of March.

 

Bilateral Agenda: Minerals, Technology and Tariffs

 

The technical dialogue focuses on critical points of the internationalization and logistics of supplies. Among the priority issues are the review of US tariffs and the guaranteed flow of rare minerals and magnets of Chinese origin to the North American market. Export controls in the sector are also being debated. high technology and the increase in Chinese purchases of US agricultural products.

 

This approach comes in a context of legal relief following the partial cancellation of tariffs by the Tribunal Supremo de EE. UU.This move has opened a window of opportunity to renegotiate the terms of bilateral trade amid current geopolitical tensions in Oriente Medio.

 

Summit Details	Key information
Meeting place	Headquarters of the OCDE, París
Date of consultations	15 al 17 March 2026
Upcoming Presidential Summit	March 31 to April 2 in Pekín
US Representative	Scott Bessent (Secretary of the Treasury)
Chinese Representative	He Lifeng (Deputy Prime Minister)

 

Declarations of the protagonists

 

The Secretary Scott Bessent He appeared optimistic after the first sessions, stating that the “economic dialogue” between the two powers “It is progressing”According to the senior US official, there is a firm commitment to Washington to "achieve results that benefit American farmers, workers, and businesses."

 

In turn, the Ministerio de Comercio de China confirmed that the delegation led by He Lifeng seeks to address “economic and commercial issues of mutual interest”. Bessent He stressed that, although the powers cannot change each other, there is a real possibility of "modifying the way they interact" to avoid an escalation that is harmful to the global economy.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about the negotiations in Paris

What is the main objective of this meeting in Paris?

Prepare for the president's visit Donald Trump a Pekín at the end of March and negotiate critical issues such as tariffs, technology and supply of rare minerals to avoid a trade war.

Which economic sectors would benefit the most?

Mainly the sector agricultural American, through increased purchases by Chinaand the technology and manufacturing companies that depend on the flow of Chinese components and magnets.

Who are leading the delegations in this round?

The Secretary of the Treasury of EE. UU., Scott Bessentand the deputy prime minister of China, He Lifeng, with the presence of the commercial representative Jamieson Greer.