Representatives from the United States and China opened economic and trade talks in Paris on Sunday, March 15, 2026, aiming to resolve key issues ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The discussions, held over the weekend in the French capital, are led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the American side, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng heading the Chinese delegation. This marks the sixth round of high-level consultations between the two economic powerhouses.

The Paris meeting follows a one-year trade truce agreed upon by Trump and Xi in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, after a period of escalating tit-for-tat tariffs. Previous negotiation sessions have taken place in Geneva, London, Stockholm, Madrid, and Kuala Lumpur since last year. Negotiators are focusing on tariffs, fentanyl flows, Taiwan tensions, Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products like soybeans and airplanes, access to rare earths, advanced semiconductors, and managing the trade imbalance.

The talks come amid ongoing frictions, including China's sharp rebuke of a recent U.S. trade investigation into alleged overcapacity affecting 16 trading partners, including Beijing. China's Commerce Ministry stated it reserves the right to take countermeasures, warning the probe undermines the international economic order. This investigation follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down some of Trump's broader global tariffs imposed last year.

The Paris discussions are preparatory for Trump's state visit to Beijing from March 31 to April 2, his first to China since 2017 during his initial term. The White House announced the trip, though Beijing has not officially confirmed it. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described 2026 as a "big year" for bilateral relations, noting that the agenda for high-level exchanges is already prepared.

Bessent emphasized the progress in the dialogue, attributing it to the "bonds of mutual respect" between Trump and Xi. "Under the guidance of President Trump, our team will continue to deliver results that put America’s farmers, workers, and businesses first," he said. China's Commerce Ministry confirmed the sides would address "trade and economic issues of mutual concern."

Analysts view the meeting as critical for aligning on existing agreements and managing disagreements. Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis, noted that with the Iran conflict raising oil price concerns, Beijing is particularly wary of U.S. policy inconsistencies. Both nations have incentives to sustain the truce amid domestic economic priorities.

The outcome of these talks could signal the potential for broader deal-making at the Trump-Xi summit, as the world's two largest economies seek stability amid global uncertainties.