U.S. Trade Representative: "No Further Delay in U.S.-China Summit"

"U.S.-China Relations Expected to Remain Stable Over the Next Year"
On Possibility of Additional High-Level Contacts: "No Need"

Jamison Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR), dismissed the possibility of further delays to the U.S.-China summit, which had been postponed to May due to the Iran war, saying that preparations are progressing smoothly.

In an interview with Bloomberg on March 31 (local time), Greer addressed the possibility of postponement, stating, "I have not heard any such discussions internally, nor have I heard anything from the Chinese side."

Jamieerson Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR). Photo by Getty Images/Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump originally planned to visit China for the U.S.-China summit at the end of this month, but postponed the trip to May 14-15 to focus on the Iran war.

Greer remarked, "China wants stability, and so do we. I believe we can develop a positive agenda with China moving forward," adding, "I expect relations with China to remain stable over the next year."

On March 15, Greer, along with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials, met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and the Chinese delegation in Paris, France, to conduct preliminary preparations for the summit. During the meeting, they discussed topics including agriculture, critical minerals, and trade management, and deliberated on the establishment of new official mechanisms such as the 'Board of Trade' and 'Board of Investment' to oversee bilateral trade and investment.

When asked whether there would be additional high-level contacts between the two sides before the summit, Greer responded, "I don't think that will be necessary. In Paris, we broadly agreed on the outcomes we want from the summit. Currently, working-level officials and staff are regularly communicating to solidify those results."

Greer also mentioned the goal of significantly reducing the U.S. trade deficit with China by the end of the year, stating, "Establishing such mechanisms at the summit, and subsequently determining how to optimize bilateral trade, would be a major achievement." He said the United States wishes to sell Boeing aircraft, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products, while expressing a willingness to import low-tech consumer goods from China.

He further noted that the United States has made significant progress in building self-sufficiency in rare earths, and that this matter is being managed at the working level. He added that if necessary, the issue of rare earths could be discussed at the U.S.-China summit in May.

Meanwhile, Greer's remarks that additional high-level contacts before the summit are unlikely contrast with comments made the previous day by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who stated that senior U.S. officials may visit China ahead of the U.S.-China summit.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) noted the uncertainty surrounding whether high-level Trump administration officials would visit China prior to the summit. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last October, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been sanctioned by China since 2020 after criticizing human rights issues affecting ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Sourabh Gupta, a research fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies (ICAS), said, "The current turmoil surrounding Iran could subside by then. May 14-15 will provide an opportunity to solidify results, and there is a possibility of a meeting between Secretary Bessent and Vice Premier He at the end of April."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.