US and China trade chiefs to meet mid-March before Trump-Xi summit

US and Chinese trade negotiators are slated to meet in mid-March, according to people familiar with the matter, signalling that a planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is pushing ahead despite American strikes against Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng are expected to convene in Paris at the end of next week to discuss business deals that could stem from the leaders’ meeting, said the people who requested anonymity to discuss plans that are not yet public.

Both the timing and location of the meeting could still shift, the people added.

Among the issues that could be addressed are a possible Chinese purchase of Boeing planes, commitments to buy US soybeans and Taiwan, some of the people said.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

The future of US fentanyl tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court could also be on the agenda, they added.