March 16th, 2026 - Trump Administration Pushes New Strategy to Reshape U.S.-China Trade Balance

The Trump administration is proposing a new, more structured approach to managing trade with China, aiming to rebalance what U.S. officials have long described as an unfair economic relationship. Following recent talks in Paris, officials announced discussions around creating a “U.S.-China Board of Trade,” a mechanism designed to better coordinate imports, exports, and overall trade strategy between the two countries.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the goal is to clearly define what goods should be traded between the two nations in order to ensure mutual benefit. The proposal is expected to be a key topic when President Trump meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as part of ongoing efforts to reshape one of the world’s most important economic relationships.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Greer met with Chinese officials over two days in Paris to lay the groundwork for that meeting. While President Trump had initially planned to visit China sooner, he delayed the trip by about a month due to ongoing U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Despite the delay, both sides continue preparing for high-level negotiations.

Early discussions suggest potential progress, particularly in encouraging China to increase purchases of American goods such as agricultural products, energy resources, and aircraft. Analysts say the proposed trade board could also focus on expanding trade in less sensitive sectors and possibly reducing tariffs in specific areas to boost economic cooperation.

At the same time, experts caution that managing trade at this scale will be challenging. While government-directed purchases by Chinese state-owned companies may be achievable, influencing consumer demand in China for American manufactured goods could prove far more difficult.

The Trump administration’s approach reflects a broader shift toward taking a more active role in global trade. Officials argue that a more balanced and reciprocal relationship with China requires stronger oversight and direct coordination, especially after previous agreements failed to meet expectations.

The U.S.-China trade relationship remains one of the most complex in the world, with decades of trade imbalances and ongoing disputes over tariffs, subsidies, and market access. As the administration pushes forward with new policies, including additional tariffs, the proposed Board of Trade represents a significant attempt to reshape how the two economic powers engage with each other.

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Example: The group's putative leader was conspicuously absent from the meeting.

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