US, China Officials to Meet in Sweden for Trade Talks

US-China Trade Negotiations - Optimism surrounds potential extension of US-China trade talks, though a final deal remains elusive [1] - China seeks further extension to the trade truce expiring on August 12th [2] - US has imposed 25% tariffs on China, which has impacted trading between the two countries [3] - Negotiations aim for another 90-day extension to the existing truce [4] - Discussions include rare earth minerals and advanced AI chips, with the US potentially selling these to China in exchange for rare earth metals [5] - Continued purchases of crude oil and fossil fuels from Russia and Iran, which are sanctioned by the G7 and the US, are also likely topics [6] - The US government is considering a US buyer for TikTok, which requires Chinese approval [6] Political and Strategic Considerations - President Trump may be holding off on a major announcement to coincide with a meeting with President Xi later in the year [7][8] - A meeting between the two leaders is anticipated, with an invitation extended to President Trump and the First Lady to visit China [10] - Neutral venues for discussions (Switzerland, UK, Stockholm) indicate a desire to avoid being perceived as favoring either side [11] - A significant trade deal would fulfill a key campaign pledge by President Trump to resolve trade issues with China [11]