Economy March 12, 2026

U.S. Treasury Secretary to Hold Paris Talks with Chinese Vice Premier This Weekend

Scott Bessent to continue bilateral trade and economic dialogue with Vice Premier He Lifeng in meetings scheduled for Sunday and Monday

By Ajmal Hussain
U.S. Treasury Secretary to Hold Paris Talks with Chinese Vice Premier This Weekend

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet Vice Premier He Lifeng of the People’s Republic of China in Paris on Sunday and Monday. The encounter is described by the Treasury as a continuation of ongoing trade and economic discussions between the United States and China. Bessent said the talks are progressing thanks to mutual respect between President Trump and President Xi, and that his team will work under presidential guidance to secure results aimed at benefiting American farmers, workers, and businesses.

Key Points

  • Bilateral economic dialogue: The Paris meetings are framed by the Treasury as a continuation of U.S.-China trade and economic discussions.
  • Leadership-level influence: Bessent cited respect between President Trump and President Xi as a factor helping the talks move forward.
  • Targeted beneficiaries: The stated aims of the talks are results that benefit American farmers, workers, and businesses - sectors directly referenced by the Treasury.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to meet with Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris, France over the coming weekend, with sessions set for Sunday and Monday. The meeting, according to a statement from the Treasury, is meant to carry forward the trade and economic dialogue between the United States and China.

The Treasury framed the engagement as part of an ongoing diplomatic and economic conversation between the two governments. Officials described the Paris meetings as a continuation of that dialogue rather than a discrete, standalone summit.

"Thanks to the bonds of mutual respect between President Trump and President Xi, the trade and economic dialogue between the United States and China is moving forward," Bessent said.

In his statement, Bessent emphasized that the United States team will work under the direction of President Trump. The Treasury noted the goal of the effort is to produce tangible outcomes aimed at supporting American farmers, workers, and businesses.

Details provided publicly about the meetings are limited to the timing and the framing offered by the Treasury. The announcement does not include a detailed agenda, specific negotiation items, or the names of other officials who will participate in the Paris sessions.

This set of talks follows the administration's stated emphasis on advancing trade and economic conversations with Chinese counterparts. The Treasury’s language spotlights leadership-level rapport as a motivating factor in keeping the dialogue active.


Summary of the session

The Paris meetings are positioned as a continuation of bilateral economic engagement between the two countries. Bessent’s remarks attribute the momentum of talks to respectful relations between the two presidents and indicate an explicit focus on delivering outcomes for key U.S. constituencies - farmers, workers, and businesses.

What is known

  • Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, will meet Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris on Sunday and Monday.
  • The Treasury described the meetings as a continuation of the U.S.-China trade and economic dialogue.
  • Bessent stated the talks are proceeding thanks to mutual respect between President Trump and President Xi and said the U.S. team will work under presidential guidance to achieve results for American farmers, workers, and businesses.

Risks

  • Limited public detail: The announcement does not provide a meeting agenda or list of participating officials, creating uncertainty about the specific issues to be addressed - this affects markets and sectors awaiting concrete policy or trade signals.
  • Outcome uncertainty: While the Treasury expressed intent to deliver results for farmers, workers, and businesses, no outcomes are guaranteed from the meetings, leaving potential benefits uncertain for those sectors.
  • Dependence on leadership rapport: The statement links progress to the relationship between President Trump and President Xi; if that dynamic changes, the momentum behind the dialogue could be affected, introducing uncertainty for trade-dependent industries.

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