By Onyx Bugett | TalkLife News
Published September 20, 2026 | Talks developing
Senior American and Chinese officials are beginning negotiations in New York covering tariffs, artificial intelligence and critical minerals ahead of another expected meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are meeting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The talks come as a bilateral trade truce approaches expiration and both countries continue competing for control of important technologies and supply chains.
Why critical minerals matter
Rare-earth elements and other critical minerals are used in smartphones, electric vehicles, defense equipment, medical technology and industrial machinery. China plays a major role in mining and processing many of these materials, giving supply decisions global consequences.
American officials have criticized what they describe as insufficient Chinese mineral exports. Negotiators are also expected to discuss Chinese purchases of American agricultural goods and aircraft, tariff reductions for non-sensitive products and possible investment arrangements.
Artificial intelligence enters the negotiations
The United States and China are the two most influential competitors in advanced AI. Talks may include safeguards intended to prevent powerful systems from being misused, but both countries also view artificial intelligence as central to economic and national security.
No deal yet
The meeting and participants are confirmed. The agenda has been reported by officials and informed sources, but negotiations can change. No new tariff agreement, mineral accord or AI framework had been announced when the talks began.
Predictions of a major breakthrough should therefore be treated as analysis, not news.
Source: Reuters, September 20, 2026.
Featured image: CHUTTERSNAP via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. Illustrative international-trade photograph.