London talks are just the start of efforts to close U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, right, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hold a news conference in Geneva on May 12 after a meeting between top U.S. and Chinese officials on tariffs. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

By David J. Lynch

The U.S.-China trade negotiations scheduled to begin in London on Monday are likely to produce at best a limited accord that might slow but not stop the erosion in commercial links between the nations while leaving Beijing’s state capitalist system unchanged.

President Donald Trump said Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the United States at the meeting, which aims to bridge deep disputes over trade and technology. Vice Premier He Lifeng