He Lifeng to lead five-day U.S. trade talks before Washington summit
China's Ministry of Commerce said Vice Premier He Lifeng will consult in the United States from September 19 to 23, 2026, a five-day round ahead of the planned Trump-Xi summit.
Washington has named one meeting with Vice Premier He Lifeng: Sunday in New York, four days before Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are due to meet in Washington on Thursday, September 24. Beijing's window for him runs through Wednesday.
China's Ministry of Commerce said Saturday that He will lead a delegation to the United States from Saturday through Wednesday for economic and trade consultations, guided by consensus between the two heads of state. It did not name a U.S. counterpart, a city, or anyone else on the Chinese team. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Friday that Ambassador Jamieson Greer will join Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in New York on Sunday to meet He "ahead of the U.S.-China Summit in Washington, DC." Neither statement schedules a session on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
USTR put the U.S. brief as monitoring implementation of recent commitments, "optimizing trade in non-sensitive goods," and improving market access for American farmers, manufacturers, and workers. A November 2025 White House order still suspends heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods until 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on November 10, 2026, with a 10% rate in place while the higher duties stay paused, and records China's pledge to postpone and eliminate rare-earth export controls.
Bessent told the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday that private discussions with China on Iran's financial links to Tehran would continue this weekend when he meets the vice premier, and during Xi's state visit.
The iShares MSCI China ETF MCHI, graded A by etf.net in the China single-country category, last closed Friday.
That is a dated bargaining week, not a deal to reprice.
Frequently asked
Who is meeting whom?
Vice Premier He Lifeng meets Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York on Sunday.
What is on the U.S. agenda?
USTR said it is monitoring implementation of recent commitments, optimizing trade in non-sensitive goods, and improving market access for American farmers, manufacturers and workers.
What happens to the tariff pause?
A White House order keeps heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods suspended until November 10, 2026, with a 10% rate in place while the higher duties stay paused.
Is anything besides trade being discussed?
Bessent told lawmakers that private talks on Iran's financial links would continue this weekend and during Xi's state visit.