Economy

US-China relations
US and China meet in Paris ahead of summit

Trade negotiators from the US and China held talks in Paris on Sunday ahead of a leaders’ summit later in March. The talks will continue on Monday, several media outlets report.

The talks are expected to review the latest developments on the temporary tariff deal from November and discuss issues such as the war with Iran, investments and rare earth metals.

Bloomberg writes that the outcome will lay the groundwork for Donald Trump's trip to China from March 31 to April 2, which is the first visit by a US president to Beijing in almost a decade.

- I think both sides have the minimum goal of holding a meeting, which in some way holds the situation together and avoids a breakdown and a new escalation of tensions, says China expert Scott Kennedy to Reuters.

Sunday's negotiations were held between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Middle East Crisis  Iran War
Energy Secretary: War will be over within weeks

The US war with Iran will be over within “the next few weeks”. This is what US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says to the ABC program This Week.

– It could even happen sooner than that. [...] And after that we will see a recovery in supply and a downward pressure on prices, he says about energy prices.

In NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Wright says that he has held talks with several countries that Donald Trump has asked to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

– It is clear that we will have support from other nations to achieve that goal, he says about ending Iran’s blockade of traffic in the strait.

EU to discuss larger efforts in Strait of Hormuz

EU foreign ministers are to discuss a possible expansion of the EU's military naval operation Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz, the FT reports in its live report.

Britain also says it can help reopen the strait, while South Korea has promised to have "close contact" with the US. The comments come after Donald Trump called for greater support from the outside world to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Aspides is the EU's military naval operation to protect merchant shipping and ensure free passage at sea, including in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and around the Strait of Hormuz.