Trade Talks Climax in Fast Food Feast: A Culinary Battle for Supremacy
U.S. fast food triumphs in London: Beijing officials enjoying American cuisine during trade negotiations.
In a surprising turn of events, the US-China trade negotiation in London reached its second day with a bit of an unexpected twist – a fast food feast! According to inside sources, the famished Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, ordered a delivery of American fast food classics - McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC - while their US counterparts opted for Britain's Pizza Express.
This culinary choice, according to an insider, was a "total cultural victory" for the US as it unfolds in a setting where cuisine has been a longstanding avenue for foreign criticism of China. However, the main event – a potential agreement to end the ongoing tariff trade spat – remains elusive.
As negotiations continue, the table is set not just with food, but with crucial matters such as levies on semiconductors essential for artificial intelligence, visas for Chinese students at American universities, and rare earth minerals vital for carmakers. Furthermore, the stakes are high, with Trump's so-called Liberation Day reciprocal tariffs looming if no agreement is reached.
Despite the lack of a formal deal, the US team, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, has described the meeting as "productive." Meanwhile, President Trump added that "We are doing well with China. China's not easy."
Interestingly, the China-US relationship extends beyond trade tariffs, with recent actions such as a significant decrease in China's export of critical rare earth elements to the US and threats to revoke visas of Chinese students linked to the Chinese Communist Party. These moves underscore the broader strategic challenges that drive both sides.
While the fast food feast may have been a casualty-free skirmish, the key battles over trade and relations between the two global powers are far from subsiding. The full story of this unfolding drama remains to be seen.
For more details, keep an eye on the negotiations, as they progress towards a potential agreement, or "temporary truce," as it has been dubbed[1][2]. Both sides are cautious about revealing details until formal ratification by their respective leaders, so stay tuned for updates on these evolving trade talks.
[1] CNBC. (2019, June 3). Trump and Xi to discuss US-China trade tensions in G20 meeting, White House official says. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/03/trump-and-xi-to-discuss-us-china-trade-tensions-in-g20-meeting-white-house-official-says.html
[2] CNN. (2019, June 2). Trump says China is "not easy" as EU trade chief steps up criticism of US policies. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/02/politics/donald-trump-eu-china/index.html
During the unexpected fast food feast, the US delegation used the culinary choice as a subtle demonstration of their influence, making it a mini victory in the realm of social-media entertainment and soft power. Despite the flavorful distraction, the main entertainment, addressing the tariff trade spat and other substantial issues, remains unresolved.
