Senior U.S. and China envoys to meet for showdown trade talks in London
HONG KONG — Senior U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in London on Monday in an effort to de-escalate the bitter trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies that has roiled the global economy, with China 's restrictions on critical minerals high on the agenda.
The U.K. is providing a venue for the discussions but will not be involved in them directly and the exact time and location of the meeting remains unknown.
'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,' a U.K. government spokesperson said.
The effects of the U.S.-China trade rift are already apparent, with China on Monday reporting a 34.5% decrease in exports to the U.S. in May — the biggest drop since February 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, CNBC reported.
Investors were relieved last month when U.S. and Chinese representatives meeting in Geneva said they had reached a preliminary agreement to suspend most of the tit-for-tat tariffs they had imposed on each other's goods, which had reached as high as 145%. But in recent weeks both countries have accused each other of violating the agreement.
The new round of talks comes four days after President Donald Trump and Chinese Xi Jinping held a lengthy phone call that Trump said focused mostly on trade. The call, which Trump said lasted about 90 minutes, was the first between the two leaders since Trump returned to office, though they spoke a few days before his Jan. 20 inauguration.
Trump, who had complained a day earlier that Xi was 'extremely hard to make a deal with,' said in a Truth Social post that the call 'resulted in a very positive conclusion' for both countries. He told reporters Friday that Xi had agreed to resume the flow of rare earth minerals and magnets to the U.S. after imposing export controls on the products, which are crucial components for electronics, automobiles and other industries.
Trump said his administration was 'very far advanced on the China deal' and that the meeting on Monday was about 'clarification.'
The U.S. side will be represented in London by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, while the Chinese delegation will be led by Vice Premier He Lifeng. Bessent, Greer and He were all in Geneva last month.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump insists riots would have ‘completely obliterated' LA without National Guard and demands Dems say ‘THANK YOU'
DONALD Trump has doubled down on his decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles after days of unrest in the city. The president said California Governor Gavin Newsom should be thanking him for deploying the troops to protests downtown against federal immigration raids. 8 8 8 8 However, Newsom was furious with Trump's decision to send federal service members without his permission and slammed the move as "illegal" and "immoral," as he plans to bring a lawsuit against the Trump administration over it. Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, insist that the peaceful protests turned into riots on Sunday night only in response to the National Guard showing up. But Trump said on Monday the city would be "completely obliterated" if he hadn't mobilized the Guard. "We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated," he wrote on Truth Social. "The very incompetent 'Governor,' Gavin Newscum, and 'Mayor,' Karen Bass, should be saying, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.'" He continued, "Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren't needed, and that these are 'peaceful protests.'" Rioters looted shops, set self-driving Waymo cars on fire, and blocked off the 101 Freeway on Sunday night after the National Guard was deployed. Cops used tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls to push back the protesters, even shooting a TV reporter with rubber bullets live on air at the terrifying scene. Newsom has asked Trump to withdraw the troops and threatened to sue the Trump administration after the president authorized 2,000 troops to storm the city. This is the first time in decades that a state's National Guard has been activated without the governor's permission, which Newsom called a "serious breach of state sovereignty." On Truth Social, Trump called for anyone hiding their identities behind masks to be arrested immediately. He added, "Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free." Now, 500 Marines are waiting in a "prepared to deploy" status at a base that sits about 142 miles east of Los Angeles. The city is bracing for more violent clashes on Monday as Trump's new travel ban comes into effect, furthering his crackdown on immigration. More than 100 people were arrested in ICE raids last week as agents targeted the city of Paramount, which has a predominantly Latino population in Los Angeles. LAPD chiefs have now voiced concerns over the use of deadly weapons by the rioters. Trump vowed to support law enforcement in the protests and said he will make sure his administration "sends whatever we need to make sure there's law and order." 8 8 8 8 Today, 09:11 By Georgie English The Los Angeles carnage in numbers At least 56 people have been arrested so far across three days of protests in Los Angeles, police chief Jim McDonnell said this evening. Ten people were arrested on Sunday with 29 detained on Saturday on the streets. The California Highway Patrol along the 101 Freeway made a further 17 arrests as they battled with protesters who managed to shut down the roads. One person allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at an officer. Three LAPD officers were injured in total but no serious injuries have been reported. At least five self-driving cars vehicles have been set on fire. Around 300 National Guard troops have been deployed already with another 1,700 due to arrive shortly, according to President Trump. 500 Marines are on standby, the US Northern Command said Today, 08:53 By Georgie English Rioters are using deadly weapons - LAPD chief The Los Angeles Police Department chief has told reporters his men and women are now risking their lives protecting LA due to the weapons being used by rioters. LAPD's Jim McDonnell said this evening: "The violence is escalating... "It's getting increasingly worse and more violent. "We had individuals shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill you." Today, 08:46 By Georgie English Scenes from downtown Los Angeles Today, 08:45 By Georgie English Rioters attack police with fireworks By Georgie English Brit photographer rushed to hospital after being hit by rubber police bullets A British news photographer has gone in for emergency surgery after being hit by non-lethal bullets during the violent protests in Los Angeles. Nick Stern was documenting the intense night of clashes outside a Home Depot in Paramount when a 14mm 'sponge bullet' tore through his thigh. He was treated by a medic who urged him to go to hospital. Nick even says he passed out from the pain at one point. He spoke to reporters after being mended back to health and said: 'My initial concern was, were they firing live rounds? 'Some of the protesters came and helped me, and they ended up carrying me, and I noticed that there was blood pouring down my leg.' Today, 08:14 By Georgie English FBI director says LA 'under siege by marauding criminals' Kash Patel has joined Donald Trump and JD Vance in hitting out at 'political punch lines' in California over the response to the LA riots. Patel said on X: "Just so we are clear, this FBI needs no one's permission to enforce the constitution. "My responsibility is to the American people, not political punch lines. "LA is under siege by marauding criminals, and we will restore law and order. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you." It comes as President Trump continues to disagree with California Governor Gavin Newsom over what is the correct action to repel the rioters. Today, 07:43 By Georgie English Armed police deployed on horseback to push back protestors Today, 07:40 By Georgie English Self-driving cars set alight in LA by rioters Driverless taxi firm Waymo has been forced to suspend its services in downtown Los Angeles after several of its cars were hired out before being set on fire. Horror footage shows a line of the fully automated cars burning on the streets as rioters protest nearby. The LAPD has warned that burning electric vehicles can "release toxic gases". Today, 07:37 By Georgie English Protesters launch rocks at LAPD and force them to hide Today, 07:36 By Georgie English Arrests made in LA after protests At least 10 people have been arrested across the riots on Sunday, LAPD cops confirmed. Dozens more arrests have been made since protest forts broke out on Friday. Today, 07:27 By Georgie English Donald Trump speaks on LA riots as he says 'bring in the troops' Today, 07:25 By Georgie English Tensions simmer across LA tonight The streets of Los Angeles have quieted down in recent moments despite there still being a very tense atmosphere. In the last few hours there has been a few flare-ups with police with vandalism also ramping up, according to the BBC. The majority of the violence appears to have stopped for now as people head back home for the night. But a lot of uncertainty remains around how things may develop overnight. Today, 07:18 By Georgie English Police say looting has started in LA The Los Angeles Police Department is saying that business owners in the city are reporting looting. On X, the LAPD Central Division writes: "Business owners are reporting stores are being looted in the area of 6th St and Broadway. Officers are en route to the location to investigate." They also urged people to avoid any areas due to the violent clashes. Today, 07:14 By Georgie English What is the US National Guard? THE US National Guard is a reserve military force made up of part-time service members who typically hold civilian jobs but can be activated for federal or state duty. Each state, territory, and the District of Columbia has its own National Guard, which can be mobilized by the state governor or the President. Can the President call the National Guard for local matters? Yes, but with limits. Normally, governors deploy their state's National Guard to handle local emergencies like natural disasters, protests, or civil unrest. The President can federalize the National Guard under specific laws, such as the Insurrection Act. This allows them to respond to domestic unrest if it's deemed beyond the capacity of local or state authorities. When federalized, National Guard troops operate under presidential command rather than the governor's. While it's unusual, a president can deploy the National Guard into a state without a governor's consent if certain legal thresholds are met. These typically involve threats to federal property, national security, or widespread breakdowns in public order. However, such actions are often politically and legally controversial. Today, 07:13 By Georgie English Trump vs California Despite the carnage flooding the streets, California's government has said they have the situation under control. Governor Gavin Newsom even accused Trump of "inflaming tensions" by deploying the National Guard. The pair have a long history of heated disputes over policy. Newsom formerly requested Trump remove the guard members, which he called a "serious breach of state sovereignty". Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass added the arrival of troops is a "dangerous escalation". She said: "We do not want to play in to the [Trump] administration's hands." "What we're seeing in Los Angeles is chaos provoked by the administration." Trump fired back at California's government as he called them "incompetent". Newsom and Trump reportedly spoke for 40 minutes by phone on Saturday, though details of their conversation have not been disclosed. The deployment of troops marks the first time in six decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump seeks removal from a New Hampshire lawsuit challenging his order on transgender athletes
President Donald Trump 's administration wants to be dropped from a lawsuit in which two New Hampshire teens are challenging their state's ban on transgender athletes in girls' sports and the president's executive order on the same topic. Parker Tirrell, 16, and Iris Turmelle, 14, became first to challenge Trump's 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' order when they added him to their ongoing lawsuit over New Hampshire's ban in February. A federal judge has ruled that they can try out and play on girls sports teams while the case proceeds. In a motion filed Friday, attorneys for the government say the teens are trying to 'drag the federal government into a lawsuit well under way not because of an imminent injury, but because of a generalized grievance with polices set by the President of the United States.' Deputy Associate Attorney General Richard Lawson argued that the government has done nothing yet to enforce the executive orders in New Hampshire and may never do so. 'Plaintiffs lack constitutional standing and their stated speculative risk of future injury is not close to imminent and may never become ripe,' wrote Lawson, who asked the judge to dismiss claims against Trump, the justice and education departments, and their leaders, Trump's executive order gives federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX — which prohibits sexual discrimination in schools -- in alignment with the Trump administration's view a person's sex as the gender assigned at birth. Lawyers for the teens say the order, along with parts of a Jan. 20 executive order that forbids federal money from being used to 'promote gender ideology,' subjects the teens and all transgender girls to discrimination in violation of federal equal protection guarantees and their rights under Title IX. In its response, the government argues that the order does not discriminate based on sex because males and females are not similarly situated when it comes to sports. Transgender people represent a very small part of the nation's youth population – about 1.4% of teens ages 13 to 17, or around 300,000 people. But about half of the states have adopted similar measures to New Hampshire's sports ban, with supporters arguing that allowing transgender girls to play is unfair and dangerous. In interviews earlier this year, neither New Hampshire teen said they feel they hold any advantage over other players. Tirrell says she's less muscular than other girls on her soccer team, and Turmelle said she doesn't see herself as a major athlete. 'To the argument that it's not fair, I'd just like to point out that I did not get on the softball team,' Turmelle recalled of her tryout last year. 'If that wasn't fair, then I don't know what you want from me.'
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Labour MPs in call for benefits U-turn after change to winter fuel payment cut
Labour backbenchers have called for a Government U-turn on planned disability benefit cuts, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves restored winter fuel payments to a majority of pensioners. Ms Reeves' £1.25 billion plan unveiled on Monday will see automatic payments worth up to £300 given to pensioners with an income less than £35,000 a year. It followed last year's decision to strip pensioners of the previously universal scheme, unless they claimed certain benefits, such as pension credit. Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, warned ministers they risked making a 'similar mistake' if they tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, known as Pip. Leeds East MP Richard Burgon called on pensions minister Torsten Bell to 'listen now' so that backbenchers can help the Government 'get it right'. In her warning, Ms Whittome said she was not asking Mr Bell 'to keep the status quo or not to support people into work' and added: 'I'm simply asking him not to cut disabled people's benefits.' The pensions minister, who works in both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions, replied that the numbers of people receiving Pip is set to 'continue to grow every single year in the years ahead, after the changes set out by this Government'. In its Pathways to Work green paper, the Government proposed a new eligibility requirement, so Pip claimants must score a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, such as preparing food, washing and bathing, using the toilet or reading, to receive the daily living element of the benefit. 'This means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the Pip daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future,' the document noted. Mr Burgon told the Commons: 'As a Labour MP who voted against the winter fuel payment cuts, I very much welcome this change in position, but can I urge the minister and the Government to learn the lessons of this and one of the lessons is, listen to backbenchers? 'If the minister and the Government listen to backbenchers, that can help the Government get it right, help the Government avoid getting it wrong, and so what we don't want is to be here in a year or two's time with a minister sent to the despatch box after not listening to backbenchers on disability benefit cuts, making another U-turn again.' Mr Bell replied that it was 'important to listen to backbenchers, to frontbenchers'. Opposition MPs cheered when the minister added: 'It's even important to listen to members opposite on occasion.' Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin warned that 'judging by the questions from his own backbenchers, it seems that we're going to have further U-turns on Pip and on the two-child benefit cap'. The Tunbridge Wells MP asked Mr Bell: 'To save his colleagues anguish, will he let us know now when those U-turns are coming?' The minister replied: 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Labour Government bringing down child poverty, and that's what we're going to do 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Government that can take the responsible decisions, including difficult ones on tax and on means testing the winter fuel payment so that we can invest in public services and turn around the disgrace that has become Britain's public realm for far too long.' Conservative former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey had earlier asked whether the Chancellor, 'now that she and the Government have got a taste for climbdowns', would 'reverse the equally ridiculous national insurance contribution (Nic) rises, which is destroying jobs, and the inheritance tax changes, which is destroying farms and family businesses'. Mr Bell said: 'This is a party opposite that has learned no lessons whatsoever, that thinks it can come to this chamber, call for more spending, oppose every tax rise and expect to ever be taken seriously again – they will not.' Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey pressed the Government to make changes to the two-child benefit cap, which means most parents cannot claim for more than two children. 'It's the right thing to do to lift pensioners out of poverty, and I'm sure that both he and the Chancellor also agree that it's right to lift children out of poverty,' the Salford MP told the Commons. 'So can he reassure this House that he and the Chancellor are doing all they can to outline plans to lift the two-child cap on universal credit as soon as possible?' Mr Bell replied: 'All levers to reduce child poverty are on the table. 'The child poverty strategy will be published in the autumn.' He added: 'If we look at who is struggling most, having to turn off their heating, it is actually younger families with children that are struggling with that. 'So she's absolutely right to raise this issue, it is one of the core purposes of this Government, we cannot carry on with a situation where large families, huge percentages of them, are in poverty.'
