A high-level delegation of American business leaders is visiting China this week, coinciding with the latest round of US-China trade negotiations, according to sources familiar with the matter. The visit, seen as a key moment in ongoing efforts to reset economic ties between the world’s two largest economies, is being organized by the US-China Business Council.
Led by FedEx CEO and council board chair Rajesh Subramaniam, the delegation is expected to include top executives from Boeing and council president Sean Stein. While the full itinerary remains under wraps, sources confirm that the group will hold meetings with senior Chinese officials, likely to explore avenues for revitalizing bilateral business relations.
“This is expected to be a serious effort to revive high-level business discussions,” one source told reporters, highlighting the strategic timing of the visit.
The trip marks the most senior American business delegation to travel to China since the escalation of trade tensions under former President Donald Trump in 2023, which reignited a tariff war between the two countries. A 90-day truce reached earlier this year paved the way for renewed diplomatic and economic engagement.
The business leaders’ visit comes as senior officials from both countries gather in Sweden this week for a fresh round of trade talks. These discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including market access, technology restrictions, and sensitive geopolitical concerns such as China’s oil partnerships with Russia and Iran, the US fentanyl crisis, and the future of TikTok.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized last week that the core focus remains on expanding market access and reducing trade barriers. “Both sides need to find a sustainable path forward that benefits businesses and workers alike,” Lutnick said in an interview with Bloomberg.
The US-China Business Council, which regularly facilitates corporate exchanges tied to major policy moments, has not yet issued a public statement about this week’s visit. However, the council has previously underscored the urgency of addressing tariff-related challenges. In a recent survey of 130 member companies, tariffs were identified as the second-biggest concern for US firms operating in China.
“This truce represents a critical opportunity,” the council noted in the report. “Immediate priorities include meaningful and lasting tariff reductions, a transparent exclusion process, and ample time for companies to adapt.”
Boeing, one of the key participants in the delegation, is expected to re-engage in sales talks during the visit. A 2017 agreement under the Trump administration saw Chinese companies commit to buying $37 billion worth of Boeing aircraft, though the deal was later derailed by safety concerns and geopolitical tensions. Deliveries resumed this year, with eight planes arriving in China last month.
Amid signs of thawing relations, both countries are also reportedly working to arrange a visit to China by the US president later this year — a move that could further stabilize trade ties and unlock new opportunities for cross-border business cooperation.
As markets await the outcome of this week’s meetings, optimism is growing that the fragile truce could evolve into a more durable economic framework — potentially setting the stage for a new chapter in US-China business relations.
