Xi Jinping and Donald Trump may meet next month at G20 amid rising China-US tensions
The two presidents could meet in Buenos Aires at the end of November as relations between their countries continue to be strained by multiple issues
President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump plan to meet in Buenos Aires during the Group of 20 leaders’ summit at the end of November, amid rising tensions between the countries over trade, South China Sea and Taiwan issues.
The Trump administration has informed Beijing of its decision to go ahead with the meeting in recent days, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. China has been hoping such a meeting could provide an opportunity for both sides to try to ease the escalating trade tensions.
The meeting – expected to take place at the G20 summit in Argentina’s capital city at the end of November, according to the Journal report – has been pushed by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow, who are worried about the global stock market rout that has followed the trade fight.
It is significant that Mnuchin and Kudlow, the China trade moderates on Trump’s team, are having their way, at least for the time being. Trump’s China trade actions often reflect the agendas of hardliners such as National Trade Council Adviser Peter Navarro and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
Since the trade war began about two months ago, Washington has imposed tariffs on US$250 billion of Chinese imports, about half of what China sends the US.
