US–China Paris Push
Top U.S. and Chinese economic chiefs wrapped talks in Paris to clear a path for the Xi–Trump summit in Beijing later this month, negotiators reported. They’re pushing for managed‑trade, agriculture and critical‑minerals accords that could be showcased at upcoming G20 and APEC meetings — a deliberate bid to steady global supply chains and reduce policy uncertainty for multinationals announced.
Talks were led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (bloomberg.com) and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (usnews.com) on March 15–16, 2026 in Paris. Delegations met for more than six hours at the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development headquarters in Paris (usnews.com). China remains committed to buying 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans a year for each of the next three years under the October 2025 truce (usnews.com). Sources said Beijing showed openness to additional U.S. purchases including poultry, beef and non‑soy row crops during the Paris session (cnbc.com). Officials scheduled technical talks on a proposed U.S.–China "Board of Trade" and "Board of Investment", with the Board of Trade described as the more developed proposal (cnbc.com). U.S. negotiators pressed on access to Chinese‑produced critical minerals such as yttrium used in jet engines, and sources said the sides "found some ways to loosen up" on mineral issues though specifics were not disclosed (cnbc.com). U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (bloomberg.com) and China’s chief trade negotiator Li Chenggang were also at the talks, building on earlier meetings in Geneva and elsewhere that produced the November truce (usnews.com). Outcomes from Paris are being readied ahead of a planned leaders’ visit to Beijing on March 31–April 2, 2026 (bloomberg.com), though President Trump told the Financial Times he "may delay" the trip while pressing China over the Strait of Hormuz (usnews.com).
