President Trump stated in an interview at the Oval Office in the White House on Tuesday, July 22nd, that he has received a formal invitation from Chinese leader Xi Jinping and may soon visit China. If the visit happens, it will be Trump’s second visit to China since 2017.
“We are likely to make this visit in the near future, the timing still needs some arrangement, but it won’t be too long,” Trump added, “I have received invitations from many people, and we will soon make a decision.”
This potential visit comes at a critical time in the US-China trade and security situation. The US-China tariff ceasefire agreement is set to expire on August 12th. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Sweden next week for a new round of negotiations with the Chinese side. At this time, with Trump releasing news of a possible visit to China, it is speculated that it could become a key indicator of the future direction or changes in US-China relations.
On the same day, Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that the US-China tariff ceasefire period may be extended further, depending on the outcome of next week’s negotiations.
“At that time, we will discuss possible extension plans,” Bessent told Fox News. “We hope China can reduce excess manufacturing capacity and focus on developing a consumer-driven economy.”
He added that the trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing have “reached a new level” and “the atmosphere is very constructive… we will accomplish many things.”
There is ongoing attention on whether the US will adjust its current tariff policies.
Shortly after Bessent’s remarks, the State Administration for Market Regulation of China issued a brief statement announcing the suspension of an antitrust investigation into the US chemical company DuPont’s subsidiary in China – DuPont China Group.
In April this year, the Chinese regulatory body launched an investigation into the China DuPont company for alleged violations of antitrust laws against the backdrop of escalating US-China trade tensions.
DuPont, in a statement to The Epoch Times, expressed “joy” over the suspension of the Chinese investigation.
Bessent indicated that he will discuss the issue of China importing sanctioned Russian oil at the meeting in Sweden.
On July 14th, during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington, Trump stated that if the Kremlin fails to reach a peace agreement within 50 days, he will impose a 100% tariff on countries importing Russian oil.
Rutte later stated that these tariffs will have a “massive impact” on major buyers of Russian oil like China, India, and Brazil, urging the leaders of these countries to pressure President Putin to reach a peace agreement.
Before Trump announced this tariff policy, a related sanction bill proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina had garnered support from 85 senators. The bill allows the US president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on any country assisting Russia in the war in Ukraine.