US-China trade talks in London focus on tech export controls: who is Lutnick?

US-China trade talks in London are set to address escalating disputes, particularly focusing on technology export controls and rare earth minerals, which China dominates.

The talks come after a 90-day suspension of tariffs agreed in Geneva last month, aiming to ease tensions from a trade war marked by tit-for-tat tariff hikes peaking at 145%.

Swetha Ramachandran, fund manager at Artemis, said, "The inclusion of Lutnick in the talks was a welcome addition since he was behind some of the very harsh export controls of technology to China."

Lutnick's involvement signals a tougher US stance on technology exports, a critical area given China's dominance in mining and processing rare earths essential for autos, robotics, and military equipment.

Additional tensions include the US revoking visas of some Chinese students, an unusual but impactful issue in trade discussions.

Beijing has confirmed Vice Premier He Lifeng's attendance, underscoring the talks' high stakes.

Key stats:
- Tariffs had escalated to over 100%, peaking at 145% in retaliatory measures.
- The 90-day tariff suspension was agreed last month in Geneva.

The London talks aim to resolve these multifaceted disputes, balancing economic interests and geopolitical concerns amid ongoing US-China rivalry.

US-China trade talks in London focus on tech export controls and rare earths dominance, with new disputes threatening tariff suspensions. The inclusion of Lutnick, known for harsh export controls on technology to China, marks a significant development in the negotiations, amid ongoing tensions over tariffs and student visas.