China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng, the country’s chief trade negotiator, has traveled to the United States for talks ahead of a planned summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump. The high-level meetings are scheduled to take place at the White House on September 24, with the aim of addressing ongoing tensions related to trade, technology, and broader strategic concerns between the two largest economies.

He Lifeng is leading a Chinese delegation for consultations from September 19 until September 23, focusing on economic and trade issues described as "of mutual concern," according to China’s commerce ministry, which was quoted by the state news agency. The negotiations are intended to be guided by the "important consensus" reportedly reached by the two leaders, signaling an intent to build on prior agreements.

On the U.S. side, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to engage with He during the visit, with discussions set to include trade matters and potentially other geopolitical issues such as Iran. The economic ties between China and Iran have long been a sticking point in U.S.-China relations, adding complexity to the talks beyond the immediate commercial disputes.

The backdrop for these discussions is a tariff truce agreed upon in October 2025 after a series of escalations following Trump’s return to the presidency. That truce helped to ease fears of a trade war that could have severely disrupted global markets. However, despite nearly a year without new tariff increases, the two sides have yet to finalize a comprehensive agreement, leaving several key issues unresolved.

Observers note that the talks remain delicate, with negotiators working to bridge differences on technology transfers, intellectual property rights, and market access, among other topics. Both governments appear committed to dialogue, with the upcoming summit expected to serve as a critical juncture for defining the trajectory of U.S.-China economic relations going forward.