US and China Hold Preliminary Trade Talks Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

United States and Chinese officials conducted last-minute trade discussions at Incheon Airport in South Korea to establish the agenda for the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, the talks followed separate meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Analysts characterize these interactions as exploratory efforts to gauge each other's positions rather than attempts to secure immediate breakthroughs. The Beijing summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, marks the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in over six months. Key topics expected to dominate the agenda include stabilizing bilateral ties, potential Chinese purchases of American agricultural and energy products, and US restrictions on semiconductor exports. Additionally, both nations are considering extending a truce on rare earth export restrictions. Although the ongoing conflict involving Iran is a significant global issue, President Trump stated that it would not be a primary focus of the discussions, asserting that the US has the situation under control.