US Treasury's Bessent to discuss AI, rare earths with China's He, source says

The Korea Times - Sep 19, 2026

WASHINGTON — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to discuss artificial intelligence (AI), trade, rare earths and economic issues when he meets with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York City this weekend, according to a source familiar with his plans. The discussions are significant because the U.S. and China are the two major forces driving development of advanced AI tools and the global adoption of the technology. Rare earths play a crucial role in the manufacturing of technology. Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and He will meet on Sunday in New York ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24 in Washington, Greer's office said in a statement. "The Trump Administration will continue to pursue balanced trade with China by monitoring the implementation of recent commitments, optimizing trade in non-sensitive goods, and improving market access for American farmers, manufacturers, and workers," Greer said in the statement. Bessent said in a separate statement that he expects the discussions to cover

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