Global Political Calendar: What follows China-U.S. trade truce?

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Europe

China-U.S. trade negotiations start on a new track, Germany's governing party elects a leader to replace Angela Merkel, oil-producing countries hold a crunch meeting on supply levels, and President Xi Jinping visits Panama and Portugal.

Trade truce

A détente has been reached in the China-U.S. trade dispute. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, meeting over sirloin steak and caramel-rolled pancakes on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina, agreed to freeze plans for additional tariffs and continue negotiations.

So what happens next? Eyes will be on market reaction on Monday and further details on what the sides agreed, as well as arrangements for fresh talks and another meeting between presidents "at an appropriate time."

Analysts will be looking at U.S. trade negotiations with other countries for lessons. At the G20, a revamped NAFTA deal was signed but U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel were maintained and the deal still faces a difficult ratification process.

And after the blow struck to the Trump political heartland by General Motors last week, European carmakers head to the White House on Tuesday with a little trepidation as they seek to dissuade the administration from imposing tariffs on auto imports from the EU.

The Trump-led global trade conflict is far from over, despite deals at the G20 summit.

Replacing Merkel

Germany's governing Christian Democratic Union, the party led by Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2000, will vote for a new leader at the end of this week.

The election at a two-day party congress in Hamburg is a turning point for German and European politics. Merkel has been the dominant figure in European politics for the past decade, and although she plans to stay on as chancellor until 2021 she will be entering uncharted territory.

The dynamics of a lame duck leader without a party are untested. What happens if her replacement at the head of the CDU - Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Jens Spahn or Friedrich Merz - deviates from her centrist track? German politics, which has had a dramatic year, is about to get yet more interesting.

Xi in Panama, Portugal

With the G20 summit in Argentina behind him, President Xi embarks on state visits to Panama and Portugal this week before returning to Beijing for talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

China and Panama established diplomatic relations last year, and Xi and counterpart Juan Carlos Varela will sign cooperation documents with the aim of consolidating "the foundation for long-term development of bilateral ties" according to Chinese officials.

Xi's visit to Portugal, one of several EU countries positioning itself as a gateway to the Europe for China, will include a meeting with Prime Minister Antonio Costa and the signing of further cooperation documents.

Oil price slump

Drama is expected in Vienna on Thursday when oil-producing countries meet. Oil prices have dropped more than 30 percent in the past two months, and the OPEC nations plus Russia are weighing up a deal to cut production and stop the slide.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday, after talks with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20, that the two leading oil-producing countries had agreed to work together to manage output.

That pact means an OPEC+ -- OPEC members plus major non-OPEC oil producers -- deal is more likely, but details are sketchy. U.S President Trump is firmly opposed to production cuts and has urged Riyadh against such a move. Will Saudi Arabia find a way to reduce supply while keeping Trump happy?

Day-by-day

Monday: Chinese President Xi Jinping pays a state visit to Panama before flying to Portugal, NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss the Russia-Ukraine standoff, talks aimed at bringing an end to the conflict in Yemen are tentatively scheduled begin in Stockholm, and the British government publishes its legal position on the proposed Brexit deal.

Tuesday: British parliamentarians begin a five-day Brexit debate before a critical vote scheduled for December 11, the European Court of Justice advocate-general opines on whether Britain can unilaterally decide to stay in the EU, and representatives of European automakers visit the White House amid ongoing speculation over new U.S. tariffs on the sector.

Wednesday: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier begins a six-day state visit to China featuring trips to Beijing, Guangdong and Sichuan as well as meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, while the Swedish parliament votes on a new premier.

Thursday: Germany's Christian Democratic Union holds a party congress to vote on a new party leader to replace Angela Merkel, OPEC members and Russia meet to decide on oil production cuts, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to attend an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Italy.

Friday: The Indian province of Rajasthan votes in state polls seen as a key test for Prime Minister Modi ahead of general elections in 2019.

Sunday: British Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are expected to clash in a live, televised Brexit debate, snap parliamentary elections are held in Armenia, and Peruvians will vote in a referendum on political and judicial reforms.