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| US President Donald Trump |
Trump aides plan presidential visit to China accompanied by company leaders
The Donald Trump administration is reaching out to several business leaders to gauge their interest in accompanying him on a potential visit to China this year, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign of possible strengthening ties between the two economies despite repeated US messages about seeking to decouple the US economy from Beijing.
According to the people, who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the discussions, Commerce Department officials are reaching out to CEOs of several US companies to gauge their interest in participating. It is unclear how many executives have been invited or whether any have confirmed their participation.
Some people familiar with the matter indicated that potential opportunities for such a visit could coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October in South Korea, as well as another summit of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia—events the US president regularly attends.
When asked about the matter, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said a visit to China is "not currently scheduled," while the Commerce Department declined to comment.
However, insiders indicate that Trump's visit to China has not yet been decided, as the idea faces opposition within the administration, which includes many officials known for their hardline stance toward Beijing.
However, the early move to initiate these contacts highlights how Trump seeks to use his presidency to strike deals that benefit American companies and expand markets for American products, even though his protectionist policies, most notably the imposition of tariffs, have raised concerns among allies and unsettled markets.
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