← Latest news 
US and China kick off Seoul talks as Trump heads to Beijing with major CEOs in tow
International
Published on 14 May 2026
The talks are hours long, yet aim at a looming November deadline
Fresh US-China trade negotiations began in Seoul at Incheon International Airport, just hours before President Donald Trump lands in Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping. Led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the meeting comes as the parties prepare to review tariff and export-control tensions, including a critical minerals-related suspension expected to expire in November. The agenda also reportedly covers US soybeans and beef, plus aircraft export controls—while the third-month US-Israeli war on Iran and its shipping and price impacts loom large.
- US and China delegations met at Incheon ahead of Trump’s Beijing arrival
- Talks led by Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- It is the seventh negotiation round between He and Bessent since Trump returned
- Discussions include US soybeans, beef, aircraft, and China’s critical minerals export controls
- A key export-control suspension is set to expire in November
- Iran conflict is expected to be raised, with US Treasury sanctions targeting Iran-linked China shipments
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times