Donald Trump has indicated that he may postpone his planned trip to China later this month as he seeks greater cooperation from China to help ease tensions affecting global oil supply.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump suggested that Beijing should play a role in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where threats from Iran during the ongoing conflict have disrupted tanker traffic and pushed oil prices higher. He argued that because China relies heavily on oil from the Middle East, it should support a coalition he is attempting to build to restore safe passage for tankers through the strait. Trump added that the United States would like to know China’s position before the trip takes place, warning that the visit could be delayed.
The remarks came as Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris on Monday for another round of trade discussions. The talks are intended to prepare the ground for Trump’s proposed visit to Beijing.
Although Washington and Beijing have recently agreed to a temporary truce that halted the exchange of new tariffs, tensions remain high as both sides continue negotiations on trade and broader economic issues.
