Scott Bessent Arrives in South Korea for US‑China Talks
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Scott Bessent arrived in Incheon, South Korea on May 13 to hold trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of the US‑China summit in Beijing.
- He Lifeng and Scott Bessent will also meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Blue House on Wednesday morning.
- Li Chenggang, China’s Vice Commerce Minister and lead trade negotiator, is accompanying He Lifeng in the talks.
- Incheon airport’s reception room will host the talks, according to a News1 report.
- United States and China are expected to agree on forums to facilitate mutual trade and investment, and China is expected to announce purchases of Boeing airplanes, American agriculture and energy.
- Beijing wants the United States to ease curbs on advanced semiconductors and has raised concerns about a bill to keep critical chip‑making equipment from China.
Why it matters: The talks set the stage for the Beijing summit to lock in trade‑facilitating forums and Chinese purchases of Boeing, agriculture and energy, giving U.S. exporters a boost, while Beijing’s push for looser semiconductor curbs signals a bid to ease technology restrictions that could reshape export‑control dynamics.
Ask SkimNews
