US, China seek to wrap Paris talks on managed trade, agriculture deals

Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials were due to conclude talks in Paris on Monday, with potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade that could be taken up by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, sources familiar with the discussions said.



The sources told Reuters that the "remarkably stable" talks led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng would set in motion possible "deliverables" for Trump's expected trip to China at the end of March to meet with Xi.



But the leaders would have the final say, they added.



Trump, however, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he could also delay his summit with Xi later this month as he presses Beijing to help unblock the crucial Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran.



"We may delay," he said of the trip.



The U.S. and Chinese delegations met for more than six hours on Sunday at the Paris headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club of mostly wealthy democracies that does not count China as a member.