U.S. and Chinese trade officials plan to meet in New York to discuss tariffs, artificial intelligence, and Iran.

What it means

Senior U.S. and Chinese trade officials—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng—are scheduled to meet in New York this Sunday (September 20, 2026) to discuss tariffs, artificial intelligence, and Iran. The talks are intended to lay groundwork for an upcoming summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, reflecting ongoing high-level engagement despite bilateral tensions.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim originates from Bloomberg, a credible news organization, based on official planning; it has been widely republished (e.g., The Straits Times, Reuters). No primary government statement is cited, but the Bloomberg report is the likely direct source, making the claim solid in reporting intent and timing—though exact agenda items and outcomes remain unconfirmed.

How new

The reporting and the meeting itself are genuinely new, with articles published on September 18–19, 2026, and the meeting scheduled for the following day.

Go deeper

• The Straits Times — first to publish