US President Donald Trump is set to embark on a three-day visit to China with the objective of rebalancing trade, safeguarding US economic strength, and protecting national security. Senior US officials have indicated that the discussions between the two sides will include continued work on a US-China Board of Trade and a US-China Board of Investment. The two countries will focus on identifying mutual areas of interest in trade.
Key Agreements and Discussions
The two sides will also discuss additional agreements covering industries such as aerospace, agriculture, and energy. Following this productive visit, Trump looks forward to hosting President Xi Jinping and Madam Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington DC later this year, according to an official.
Highlights of the Visit
Some of the highlights of Trump's visit to China include his arrival scheduled for Wednesday, participation in a bilateral meeting with President Xi on Thursday, and a visit to the Temple of Heaven. The President will also attend a state banquet and, on Friday, a bilateral working lunch with President Xi before departing China.
"On Wednesday evening, President Trump will arrive in Beijing. On Thursday morning, he will participate in a welcome ceremony and a bilateral meeting with President Xi. That afternoon, he will tour the Temple of Heaven with President Xi. That evening, he will participate in a state banquet, and on Friday morning, President Trump will participate in a bilateral tea and working lunch with President Xi before departing from China," the officials said.
Expected Outcomes
The officials stated that the visit would spearhead delivering outcomes for Americans and rebalancing economic ties with China. "The American people can expect the President to deliver more good deals on behalf of our country. These agreements will further rebalance trade with China while putting American workers, farmers, and families first and safeguarding US economic strength and national security."
Topics are expected to include continued work on the US-China Board of Trade and the US-China Board of Investment. The Board of Trade will allow the United States and China to manage trade between the two governments across non-sensitive goods. The Board of Investment will provide a government-to-government forum for discussing investment-related issues.
Scale of Trade
Speaking about the scale of the Board of Trade and how much trade is expected to be covered, a senior US official said, "You're looking at double-digit billions, is probably the best way to put it."
Highlighting how the Chinese economy is governed in a centralized way, the official noted that the Americans have found, over the past year, that a helpful way forward is to identify areas of mutual interest in trade, such as agricultural purchases and the purchases of aircraft.
Focus on US Interests
Speaking about the details of the engagements in China, the US official underlined how under Trump, the bilateral ties have refocused on rebuilding the safety, security, and prosperity of Americans. The much-anticipated visit of Trump is set to focus on the economic and security realities of today, which would see the President rebalance the relationship with China and prioritize "restoring" American economic independence.
