US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to meet this weekend to continue bilateral economic discussions. The two officials have held regular meetings throughout 2025 and 2026 in cities including Davos, Paris, London, Seoul, and Geneva.
The ongoing negotiations focus on tariff adjustments, US agricultural exports, and the supply of rare earth minerals. A key target for 2026 is the export of approximately 25 million tons of US soybeans to China, a goal described as both an economic and political priority.
A central proposal in the current talks is the creation of a Board of Trade mechanism. This framework aims to explore potential duty cuts on goods valued at approximately $30 billion, providing businesses with greater clarity regarding future trade costs.
These working-level meetings serve as preparation for future high-level discussions between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. The current dialogue aims to resolve disagreements and identify potential areas of consensus before the leaders meet.
