US and China hold in-depth talks on tariffs and AI ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

Senior US and Chinese officials held candid, in-depth talks on economic and trade issues, including artificial intelligence, in New York on Sunday ahead of President Xi Jinping's expected visit to Washington on September 23. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, discussing key issues of common concern and implementation of prior consensus, according to state-run Xinhua. The talks covered AI-related matters without specifics, alongside broader economic discussions. The meeting occurs amid tensions over new US sanctions targeting buyers of Russian energy and Trump's creation of an "AI Force." Washington and Beijing are also negotiating a reciprocal tariff reduction framework covering $30 billion in goods from each side.