President Trump has indicated a willingness to postpone a planned trade meeting with China, citing the necessitate to focus on ongoing military operations. “We asked to push the date back by about a month,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not immediately responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights how the situation in Iran has disrupted Trump’s foreign policy agenda. The crisis in the Middle East also presents a new source of tension between Washington and Beijing, alongside existing trade disputes and questions surrounding Taiwan – according to Reuters.
Trump has called on several countries, including China, to assist in ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil traffic passes through the strategic waterway daily. Iran has threatened to attack ships traversing the strait in response to U.S. And Israeli attacks, whereas its own maritime traffic continues largely uninterrupted. Most countries have so far declined the U.S. Request for assistance. China, which imported roughly 12 million barrels of oil per day in the first two months of 2026 – making it the world’s leading consumer – has also not offered a substantive response. A significant portion of Iranian oil exports are directed to China.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized on Monday that
the postponement is solely to coordinate military operations.
The decision is not related to securing the strait or resolving trade disputes. “The President wants to remain in Washington to direct the war effort. A foreign trip is not necessarily advisable at a time like this,” Bessent stated.
Preparations for the summit are continuing despite the postponement. Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier Ho Li-feng in Paris on Monday to discuss potential agreements on trade and other issues ahead of the planned Trump-Xi meeting. During the talks, the Chinese side expressed openness to purchasing additional U.S. Agricultural products – including poultry, beef, and field crops beyond soybeans. Discussions also covered the rare earth metals market, largely controlled by China, as well as potential new approaches to trade and investment between the two countries.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Qian responded to the weekend’s statements, asserting that state-level diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in managing the strategic direction of Sino-American relations. He added that the two sides are continuously coordinating details regarding the trip.
Címlapkép forrása: Scott Eisen/Getty Images
