WASHINGTON, April 7 - U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday that the economic relationship between the United States and China is stable and that President Donald Trump plans to keep it that way in a meeting next month with his Chinese counterpart. Greer made the remarks during an appearance at the Hudson Institute think tank.
Greer emphasized that the United States is not seeking a major confrontation with China and that maintaining stable relations is Washington's objective. He reiterated that stability is the goal heading into the planned high-level talks between the two countries.
On specific trade and strategic commodity topics, Greer said U.S. negotiators raise rare earths and other critical minerals during every meeting with their Chinese counterparts. He said the United States is simultaneously engaging with other countries about securing supplies of critical minerals, reflecting a wider effort to diversify sources beyond a single partner.
Greer also stated there needs to be some form of price mechanism for critical minerals, indicating concern about price signals and market functioning for these materials. At the same time, he said the United States and China have not reached the stage where they can discuss collaborative investment programs.
Taken together, his comments framed a diplomatic approach that seeks to balance engagement on commodity and supply issues while stopping short of deeper investment cooperation. Greer’s remarks point to ongoing attention on materials that are important to a range of industries, but also to limits in the current bilateral agenda where investment initiatives are not yet being negotiated.
Contextual note - Greer framed U.S. policy as oriented toward stability in the economic relationship with China, ongoing discussions of rare earths and critical minerals in bilateral meetings, outreach to other countries about supplies, a stated need for a price mechanism for those commodities, and an absence of talks on investment programs at this stage.