Mongolian President Kh.Battulga is set to meet with President Donald Trump later this week at the White House. The leaders will discuss a range of issues, including defence and security, trade and investment, and the sovereignty of the rule of law.

During his four-day visit, Kh.Battulga is planning to deliver speech about US-Mongolian relationship issues at the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies USA and to hold meetings with the country’s lawmakers regarding exporting Mongolian cashmere to the country on a duty-free basis.

From a geo-political point of view, Mongolia is uniquely situated, being sandwiched between China and the Russian Federation. Currently, the country is practically dependent on the former, for export revenue, which comes, primarily from copper and coal sales, and on the latter for petrol and diesel oil. Clearly, as several high-level US visits culminating in the recent mission by National Security Adviser John Bolton indicate, the United States is keen to have a firmer foothold in Mongolia.

In April, a new bill allowing duty-free imports of products made in Mongolia using local cashmere was introduced in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate; this has gathered support from apparel brands and importers. The Mongolian Third-Neighbour Trade Act will be signed into law by President Trump.

In addition, President Kh.Battulga will meet Mongolians living in the USA.

The last time that a Mongolia’s leader visited the White House was in June 2011.