Trump announces new round of US-China trade talks
Shafaq News/ On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that top American officials will meet with Chinese representatives for a new round of trade talks in London on June 9.
Trump posted on Truth Social, that the US delegation will include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. 'The meeting should go very well,' he wrote.
The announcement followed a rare phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders addressed weeks of growing trade tensions, including disputes over critical mineral exports and tariff measures. Trump described the conversation as 'very positive,' reaffirming plans for continued talks.
He had earlier acknowledged the challenges of securing a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling the process 'extremely difficult,' as fresh tariffs on Chinese metal imports came into force.
A fragile truce reached after the Geneva round in May, in which both countries agreed to temporarily lower tariffs—US duties dropped to 30% and China's to 10%—following earlier peaks of 145% and 125%, respectively. However, the temporary reductions are set to expire in early August. The US president recently accused Beijing of violating the pact, and US officials continue to cite delays in China's approval of critical mineral exports as a sticking point.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
From ally to enemy: Trump-Musk feud escalates
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, US President Donald Trump warned that tech billionaire Elon Musk would face "very serious consequences" if he finances Democratic candidates running against Republicans who supported the GOP's budget bill. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump dismissed any possibility of mending ties with Musk after a public feud between the two men escalated this week. Tensions intensified earlier in the week when Musk criticized the GOP-led spending package, which had passed the House in May. Despite the clash, Trump expressed confidence that the legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Republican-led spending and tax package) would pass the Senate before July 4. 'The Republican Party has never been united like this before. It's actually more so than it was three days ago,' he confirmed, adding that Musk's criticism may have inadvertently boosted support for the bill. Trump also rejected calls from allies—among them conservative activist Steve Bannon—to investigate Musk's business dealings or immigration record. Earlier, Musk described the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' as a 'disgusting abomination,' warning it would raise the federal deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next decade. Trump responded by calling him 'a man who has lost his mind' and hinted at selling or donating his Tesla vehicle, which he had purchased as a symbol of support for the SpaceX CEO. Since the start of 2025, Tesla has lost approximately $380 billion in market value, dropping from $1.3 trillion in early January to $950.6 billion as of June 6—a decline of 29.3 percent, the worst performance among major global companies this year. The sharpest loss came after Trump publicly threatened to cut government contracts with Musk's firms, triggering a 14 percent drop in Tesla shares, erasing $152 billion in value. Musk's personal fortune also fell by an estimated $34 billion during that session, though he remains the world's richest person with a net worth of around $334.5 billion. The tech billionaire was a major donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, reportedly contributing over $250 million to support swing-state efforts. At the start of his term, Trump appointed Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency, where Musk implemented mass layoffs and shut down several federal agencies.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Afghan PM urges exiles to return following Trump travel ban
Shafaq News/ Afghanistan's government called on nationals abroad to return home, promising safety even for those who worked with US forces, according to a speech aired Saturday. US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order earlier banning travel from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, citing the lack of competent authorities to process passports and conduct security vetting. In response, Prime Minister Hassan Akhund addressed the nation during Eid al-Adha celebrations, assuring returnees of protection under a general amnesty declared by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. 'Even if you served the Americans for decades… you will not face abuse or trouble,' Akhund said in a speech broadcast on state media. The call for return comes amid continued reports by the United Nations of extrajudicial killings and abuses, despite the Taliban's 2021 pledge of amnesty for former government and military personnel. The Taliban administration has imposed Islamic law since taking power in 2021, drawing condemnation for bans on women's education and employment that the UN has described as 'gender apartheid.' Afghan migration routes have also narrowed sharply under Trump's renewed presidency. The United States closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021, and Afghans must now seek visas in third countries—primarily Pakistan, which has stepped up expulsions of undocumented Afghans.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran claims massive intel breach into Israeli nuclear files
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Iran announced its largest intelligence operation 'in history' against Israel, alleging the retrieval of highly sensitive documents, including files related to nuclear infrastructure. According to Iranian state media, the operation was carried out by the Ministry of Intelligence and involved the covert transfer of a 'massive and complex' cache of classified Israeli documents into Iranian territory, including material on strategic sectors and critical facilities. Authorities stated that the volume of information remains under review, requiring significant technical analysis due to its scale and complexity. The timing of the operation was not disclosed, however, the announcement followed Israeli media reports of the arrest of two Israeli nationals—Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias—in the northern city of Nesher by Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency. The arrests were linked to national security charges and suspected contacts with Iran, but no official link between the two developments has been confirmed. Israel has not responded publicly to the Iranian claims, and its intelligence agencies have not issued any statements.
