US Treasury Secretary Bessent to meet China's He Lifeng in New York to discuss trade, AI, and rare earths

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China's Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet in New York on September 20, 2026, to discuss trade, AI, rare earths, and other issues. The meeting precedes a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24 in Washington. Key topics include extending a tariff truce that expires in November, maintaining flows of rare-earth magnets, and addressing energy disruptions from the Iran war. Bessent has called for AI guardrails, and China has pledged to increase purchases of US goods. The talks aim to keep relations stable amid ongoing tensions.