Chinese and American officials have opened a fresh round of trade talks in South Korea as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to Chinese state media, the meeting took place at Incheon International Airport near Seoul on Wednesday, although details of the discussions were not immediately disclosed.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are leading the negotiations, continuing a series of talks aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
The discussions are expected to help finalise possible agreements ahead of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.
Trade relations between Washington and Beijing have remained strained since both countries imposed heavy tariffs on each other’s goods last year, with some duties climbing above 100 percent.
However, both leaders agreed to a one-year trade truce during their meeting in South Korea last October.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Bessent stressed the importance of protecting America’s economic interests, saying, “Economic security is national security.”
After the South Korea meetings, Bessent is expected to join Trump in Beijing for the summit.
Several top business leaders are also travelling with the US delegation, including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, signalling the growing importance of technology and trade cooperation in the discussions.
The summit is expected to focus on tariffs, supply chains, artificial intelligence, and broader economic ties between the two global powers.
