Updated
Updated · WIRED · Sep 21
US Delegation Meets He Lifeng on Trump-Xi Agenda as Nov. 10 Trade Truce Nears Expiry
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Sep 21

US Delegation Meets He Lifeng on Trump-Xi Agenda as Nov. 10 Trade Truce Nears Expiry

3 articles · Updated · WIRED · Sep 21

Summary

  • Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer are meeting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of Donald Trump’s Sept. 23 White House summit with Xi Jinping, with trade, AI and Taiwan at the top of the agenda.
  • Nov. 10 is the deadline for the Busan trade truce, forcing both sides to decide whether to extend tariff and port-fee relief and whether to pursue roughly $30 billion in purchases of non-sensitive goods.
  • Rare earths and export controls are central to the talks: Washington wants steadier access to minerals critical for autos, defense and AI, while Beijing is pressing for relief from US tariffs and technology restrictions.
  • Taiwan and Iran could still disrupt the diplomacy, with China warning it could pull out if Washington approves new Taiwan arms sales, even as both sides are expected to avoid major concessions.
  • Trump is set to greet Xi personally at Joint Base Andrews — an unusual airport استقبال for a foreign leader — but analysts still expect symbolic deliverables rather than a breakthrough.

Insights

Will securing a fragile trade extension actually stabilize global supply chains, or merely delay an inevitable clash over advanced AI?
Can Washington secure reliable supply chains for critical batteries and rare earths without conceding ground on advanced technology restrictions?
Could closing remote cloud loopholes inadvertently accelerate China's push for total semiconductor self-sufficiency before 2035?