U.S./China Trade Reset: ‘Board of Trade’ Emerges as Key Summit Deliverable
USTR Greer signals structured mechanism to manage bilateral flows, prioritize exports, and stabilize ties ahead of Trump/Xi meeting
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said a formal U.S./China “board of trade” is shaping up as a central outcome from the May 14-15 summit between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, positioning the initiative as a framework to stabilize and actively manage economic relations between the two countries.
Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Greer described the proposed mechanism to institutionalize ongoing efforts to rebalance trade — particularly reducing the U.S. deficit with China while boosting domestic manufacturing and wages. The summit, now scheduled for mid-May after delays tied to the Middle East conflict, is expected to formalize the concept as a headline deliverable.
At its core, the “board of trade” would function as a structured channel for coordinating what goods each country prioritizes in bilateral commerce.
Greer indicated the U.S. aims to expand exports in higher-value sectors such as aircraft, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products, while remaining open to importing lower-tech consumer goods and select commodities from China.
The proposal reflects a shift toward managed trade — where both sides more explicitly define acceptable trade flows — while attempting to sidestep national security friction tied to sensitive technologies and export controls.
Greer pointed to recent U.S./China discussions in Paris as laying the groundwork, with ongoing staff-level engagement continuing to refine the framework ahead of the leaders’ meeting.
Despite persistent tensions, Greer emphasized that both Washington and Beijing are aligned on one key objective: stability. He suggested the new mechanism could anchor a more predictable trade relationship over the next year, reducing volatility while allowing both sides to pursue strategic economic goals within clearer boundaries.
