As the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump to China approaches in three weeks, reports indicate that China has expressed dissatisfaction with the last-minute preparations by the US for the upcoming summit. This discontent is growing amid reports of friction even before the summit begins, leading to lowered expectations for tangible outcomes from the meeting between the two leaders. Reuters cited sources noting that despite the need for meticulous planning over several months for such a high-profile event, the Trump administration has only recently started organizing meetings for the visit, causing Chinese officials to voice their concerns.

Wang Yi, the head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and China's foreign minister, noted during a press conference that while there are positive signals regarding the US-China summit, appropriate arrangements must be made to manage existing disagreements. This week, as Trump’s visit to China approaches, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is set to meet with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng for high-level economic and trade discussions in Paris, where they will align the agenda and expected outcomes of the summit, which is necessary given the current diplomatic tensions.

Moreover, the formation of a US business delegation travelling to China is reportedly experiencing delays, with US Ambassador to China, David Perdue, leading the efforts. However, sources indicate that the US Trade Representative's Office has been passive regarding travel plans for the delegation, leading to uncertainty over its formation before Trump's visit. Given the backdrop of high tariffs and restrictions on rare earth exports, this upcoming meeting is expected to be crucial, yet the deteriorating state of preparations may hinder its prospects for success.