On September 20, 2026, U.S. and Chinese economic officials met in New York for eight hours of talks at JPMorgan Chase’s headquarters to discuss trade and artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24. The discussions focused on establishing an "AI dialogue" communication channel to address potential AI-related national security incidents. Both sides also explored the possibility of identifying non-sensitive goods for mutual tariff reduction as part of broader efforts to ease tensions in trade and technology relations.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, met with He Lifeng, Chinese Vice Premier, on September 20, 2026, in New York City ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping scheduled for September 24 in Washington. The talks focused on trade issues, tariffs, rare earth minerals, and artificial intelligence (AI), setting the stage for discussions at the leaders' meeting. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also participated in the all-day session held at JPMorgan Chase's headquarters. Treasury Secretary Bessent called the engagement "very successful," emphasizing a proposed mechanism to enhance communication on AI security threats between the two nations. The summit aims to ease tensions and address economic and strategic concerns, though analysts predict limited breakthroughs due to ongoing great power competition. Markets responded positively to news of the productive talks, with Asian stocks advancing on Monday.
Written for “US-China Trade Talks Ahead Summit” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 29 other(s) covering the same event.
U.S. and Chinese economic officials discussed creating a communication channel for AI concerns at meetings on Sunday (September 20, 2026) as they set the stage for a summit of the countries’ top leaders this week.
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they → discuss → leaders
The talks come as both powers confront rising fears that increasingly capable artificial intelligence systems could wipe out humanity, offering a rare incentive for cooperation despite an intensifying race for technological supremacy.
“We just had a very successful engagement with the Chinese on trade and AI,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after long talks with a team led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
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Bessent → come → Lifeng
The discussions, which also included the top U.S. trade official Jamieson Greer, lasted around eight hours at JPMorgan Chase’s headquarters in New York.
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which → include → York
Mr. Bessant said the two sides discussed setting up a way to communicate about AI issues called the “U.S.-China AI dialogue.”
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sides → say → issues
“The U.S. has proposed that we have a notification mechanism between the two countries,” Mr. Bessent said.
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Bessent → propose → countries
Such notifications are for potential “incidents,” or a situation “that rises up to a national security level from AI,” he said, adding that both sides have agreed to meet again.
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sides → rise → AI
Mr. Bessent and Donald Trump also spoke one-on-one during the day, a source familiar with the matter said.
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source → speak → matter
Chinese state media described the meetings as “candid, in-depth, and constructive” on Monday (September 21).
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media → describe → Monday
“The two sides engaged in discussions on key economic and trade issues of mutual interest, such as implementing the consensus from previous consultations and promoting bilateral trade and investment,” Xinhua news agency said in a brief readout.
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agency → engage → readout
Chinese and U.S. officials also held a dialogue on “issues related to AI”, Xinhua added, without giving any further details.
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Xinhua → hold → details
Chinese official Li Chenggang, who was elevated to a top-level international trade representative post shortly before the meetings, was present in the New York talks too.
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who → elevate → talks
But the Chinese delegation did not address reporters.
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delegation → address → reporters
Mr. Greer stressed on Sunday (September 20) it is “imperative that we are able to work together.”
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we → stress → Sunday
Both sides are looking to ease tensions on trade, technology and other strategic concerns.
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sides → look → trade
These include the possible extension of a trade truce and guardrails for AI development.
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These → include → development
Non-sensitive trade
Asked about the possibility of mutual tariff reduction on certain goods, Mr. Greer said teams “are continuing to work through this.”
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teams → ask → this
The aim is to identify “non-sensitive” goods that can be considered separately from trade measures in the future, he added.
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he → identify → future
Such products could include consumer goods from the Chinese side and energy, agricultural, and other products, such as medical devices, on the U.S. side.
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products → include → side
Beyond less sensitive items, U.S. officials are also seeking to ensure the continued flow of rare earth magnets and critical minerals that are vital for U.S. manufacturers.
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that → seek → manufacturers
Working level meetings could continue into Monday (September 21), a source familiar with discussions earlier told AFP.
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source → continue → AFP
Previous negotiations saw China pledge purchases of U.S. agriculture goods too, and their fulfilment of the terms could also be an issue under scrutiny.
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fulfilment → see → scrutiny
Another issue is U.S. economic pressure on Iran, as Washington’s war with Tehran has entered its seventh month.
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war → enter → month
China is a top economic partner of Iran that buys much of its oil output and a key diplomatic backer.
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that → buy → output
Analysts caution that expectations for the Trump-Xi summit are low.
“One of the only things we can hope for in the short term is a truce, and that this will likely continue through the remainder of this year,” said former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
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Campbell → caution → State
“I think you will hear the President announce the intention to meet with Xi Jinping two more times,” added Mr. Campbell, who is now chairman of The Asia Group consultancy.
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who → think → consultancy
Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi are expected to meet in November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Shenzhen, China.
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Trump → expect → Shenzhen
Mr. Trump is also anticipated to invite Mr. Xi to the G20 summit in December at his Doral resort in Miami.
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Trump → anticipate → Miami
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