---
title: 'China, US Set for Trade Talks in South Korea Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/china-us-trade-talks-ahead-of-xi-trump/'
author: 'News Desk'
date: '2026-05-11T09:30:22+05:00'
categories:
  - 'China'
  - 'Featured'
  - 'North America'
  - 'Trade and Investment'
---

# China, US Set for Trade Talks in South Korea Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

**Washington (TDI):** China and the United States have confirmed a new round of trade talks in Seoul on Wednesday, as both sides seek to stabilize relations ahead of a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The negotiations, which will be led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, come just days before Trump’s scheduled state visit to China from May 13 to 15.

The meeting in Beijing will mark the first in-person summit between the two leaders in more than six months, and is being framed by both governments as an opportunity to prevent any more deterioration in ties.

According to the* South China Morning Post*, the Seoul talks follow an earlier negotiating round in Paris in March and a subsequent video conference in April, signaling continued communication to preserve a fragile trade truce reached after months of tariff disputes and export-control tensions.

**
In advance of [@POTUS](https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)‘ historic summit with President Xi in Beijing, I will depart on Monday for a quick series of meetings in both Japan and South Korea.

On Tuesday, I will meet in Tokyo with Prime Minister [@takaichi_sanae](https://twitter.com/takaichi_sanae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), Finance Minister [@satsukikatayama](https://twitter.com/satsukikatayama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), and other government…

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) [May 10, 2026](https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/2053460064946799057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Treasury Secretary announced his trip in a public post on social platform X, where he said he will travel to Japan first and will the Japanese Prime Minister and Finance Minister on Tuesday.

“On Wednesday, I will stop in Seoul for a discussion with Vice Premier He Lifeng of China, before continuing on to Beijing for the Leaders’ Summit between President Trump and President Xi,” he added.

Trade remains central to the agenda of the upcoming Xi-Trump summit, although geopolitical flashpoints including Iran, artificial intelligence and supply chain security are also expected to dominate discussions.

Read More: [Chinese Premier Li Urges China–US Dialogue, Warns on Taiwan Issue](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/chinese-premier-li-urges-china-us-dialogue/)**

*Reuters* reported that both governments are exploring expanded economic cooperation, including possible agreements involving Boeing aircraft, agricultural exports, and rare earth supply arrangements.

Some observers believe that Beijing is entering the talks with increased leverage, particularly because China controls key rare earth exports critical to global manufacturing and defense industries.

Despite persistent tensions, both countries appear eager to avoid another escalation in the trade war that has unsettled financial markets and disrupted global supply chains over the past year.

The previous Trump-Xi meeting, held during the 2025 Busan Summit in South Korea, resulted in temporary tariff reductions and agreements to ease some export restrictions.