Bessent Meets He Lifeng Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
US-China trade talks set the stage for the Trump-Xi summit and tariff talks AI, rare earths and tariffs are on the table—see what could shift next.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York ahead of President Donald Trump’s Sept. 24 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C.
The discussions are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, tariffs, rare earths and broader trade issues. Bessent said the talks are meant to help set the stage for the leaders’ meeting, while U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is also expected to take part.
The meeting comes as the U.S. and China continue to manage tensions over trade and technology. A temporary suspension of higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports is due to expire on Nov. 10, and the two sides are also navigating commitments tied to rareearth exports and U.S. agricultural purchases.