Top US and China envoys set trade talks after ‘constructive’ video call

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a video call on Saturday morning and stated that trade negotiators from their countries would meet next week.

“This evening, Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media on Friday evening in Washington.

“We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.”

In a separate read-out, China described He’s discussions with Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as “candid, in-depth and constructive”, touching upon “key issues in bilateral economic and trade relations”.

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“[The two sides] … agreed to convene a new round of China-US economic and trade consultations at the earliest opportunity,” according to state broadcaster CCTV.

No details on the timing or location of the talks were given in either country’s read-out of the call.