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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Beijing's international trade representative warned Monday that President Donald Trump's latest moves on tariffs could harm the trade relationship between the two countries, hours before the U.S. president said he wanted to postpone his visit to China later this month.
Speaking in Paris, Li Chenggang said there was serious concern from the Chinese side over the Trump administration's trade investigations into manufacturing in foreign countries.
“We are concerned that the possible results of such investigations may interfere with or damage the hard-won and stable China-U.S. economic and trade relations,” Li told reporters after high-level talks.
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Meanwhile, officials in the Trump administration said the president might delay his trip to China because of the ongoing Iran war. Later Monday, Trump confirmed he wanted the trip delayed by a month or so.
"We're working on that right now, we're speaking to China," he said in the Oval Office. "I'd love to, but because of the war I want to be here, I have to be here, I feel. So, we've requested that we delay it a month or so."
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Uncertain Time for U.S. on the World Stage
The warning from China comes as other world leaders continue to show unease over Trump's decision to strike Iran alongside Israel and his ongoing tariff policies, which have put pressure on trade partnerships.
Germany, Australia, Luxembourg and Japan said they have no plans to send vessels to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing strikes that have halted oil shipments. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Monday that "this is not our war, we have not started it.” The European Union and the U.K. said they are weighing a response as oil prices continue to spike.
China has also not directly accepted Trump's proposal for NATO members to help reopen the route, with the foreign ministry calling on all parties "to immediately cease military operations."
When asked what help was needed, Trump told the Financial Times, “whatever it takes” adding that allies should send minesweepers.
Will Trump Still Visit China?
Talks in Paris Monday between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese officials were meant to prepare for the president's visit.
“We had a very good two days here,” Bessent said, adding that a statement “reaffirming the stability” between the two countries would be issued “in the next few days.”
If Trump's request to delay the face-to-face visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping is granted, it could spark major economic consequences. Over the past year, relations between Washington and Beijing have been fraught, with both sides threatening steep tariffs.
In Beijing, a foreign ministry official said only that the two countries had maintained communication about Trump's visit.
“Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-U.S. relations,” Lin Jian said at a daily briefing.
Bessent urged investors not to react negatively if Trump puts off the trip.
Speaking in the Oval Office Monday afternoon, the president said the U.S. and China had a very good relationship, but that the war in Iran took priority.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 3/16/26, 11:47 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/16/26, 5:55 p.m. ET: This article's headline and copy were updated following new comments from Trump.
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