The 6th round of economic and trade talks between the United States and China is scheduled to begin this weekend in Paris, France. China's Ministry of Commerce announced on 13/3 that Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead the Chinese delegation. The US delegation will be led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with the participation of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The meeting is set to run from 14/3 to 17/3.

This high-stakes meeting occurs amidst global economic challenges and ongoing trade tensions between the two economic giants. Bessent stated today that "economic dialogue" between the nations "is being promoted."

The Paris talks precede a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Washington announced that Trump will visit China from 31/3 to 2/4.

The trade negotiations chaired by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva, Switzerland, on 11/5. *Photo: Reuters*

The event occurs as the global economy faces many challenges. Energy markets have seen significant volatility in the past two weeks due to conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Beijing is a key oil buyer from Tehran and condemned the US-Israel assassination of Iran's supreme leader earlier this month. However, China also criticized Iran's attacks on Gulf nations.

Economic relations between the United States and China experienced a turbulent year after Trump began his second term. Washington's continuous imposition of new import tariffs triggered retaliatory moves from Beijing. At one point, both sides applied triple-digit tariffs on each other. Tensions later eased as both countries reduced tariffs following trade negotiation rounds.

US import tariffs on Chinese goods are currently at a general rate of 10%, after the Supreme Court rejected tariffs Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in late 2/2026. However, tariffs applied under other laws for specific industries like aluminum, steel, and automobiles remain at 10-50%.

This week, the United States also launched two new trade investigations with its partners concerning industrial overcapacity and goods produced with forced labor. These actions could heighten the risk of instability, as they may provide a basis for the US to impose new tariffs.

China's Ministry of Commerce today released a statement criticizing these investigations, calling them "a typical unilateral action that seriously harms the international economic and trade order." Beijing urged the United States to "correct its mistaken actions."

Ha Thu (according to AFP)