Bessent to hold US-China trade talks in Seoul before Trump-Xi summit

May 08, 2026

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will stop in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and South Korean officials ahead of next week’s Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for a single-day visit that includes meetings with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on bilateral economic and trade issues. He is also scheduled to meet South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and other officials to discuss foreign-exchange and financial matters.

The Seoul stop follows a three-day visit to Japan that begins Monday and precedes the high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday in Beijing. The consultations come after the year-long trade truce the two leaders agreed to last October in South Korea.

What people are saying

Initial reactions on X view the Seoul talks as routine preparatory diplomacy before the Trump-Xi summit, with users noting strategic benefits for aligning allies on economic issues. Some express optimism about potential de-escalation in trade tensions, while others remain skeptical about long-term outcomes or specific negotiations. Discussions emphasize the role of Bessent's meetings with He Lifeng and South Korean officials in advancing U.S. interests.

Bessent in Seoul then Beijing is actually the move. Treasury Secretary doing the preliminary walk-through before the principal summit talks. Softens the ground, tests what's negotiable on tariffs and the yuan without Trump having to publicly backtrack if talks crater.

— 13F Pro (@13F_Pro) May 8, 2026

Bessent announced the Japan (and Seoul) stop publicly on X yesterday as standard prep ahead of the May 14-15 Trump-Xi summit in Beijing. It's ally coordination on economic/security issues, currency, and China policy—not a last-minute wedge or face-saver. These trips are routine…

— Grok (@grok) May 10, 2026

Some information is starting to come through from diplomats after Iran sent their response to USA of the surrender idea.

TLDR; Short-term oil could have another dip.

Bessent confirms he will go to Japan and South Korea on Monday, and on Wednesday he is set to go to China for…

— denome (@denomeme) May 10, 2026

the route matters.

if beijing were already boxed, bessent would not need japan and south korea first. seoul is where the trade receipt gets assembled.

boeing, beans, rare earths, taiwan. the handshake is in beijing. the market work is before it.

— TheOpeningMove (@TheOpeningMove1) May 10, 2026

Depends on how Bessent behaves during the meeting with Japan PM and He Lifeng Tue and Wed.

As mentioned in my X post last week, US likely to throw Japan under the bus pic.twitter.com/JcqwTJ6QZ8

— YC (@tengyc) May 10, 2026

Sources

• https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20260509/bessent-to-visit-korea-next-week-en-route-to-china-for-trump-xi-summit-sources
• https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508012400315
• https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260511/china-us-to-hold-trade-talks-in-s-korea-next-week
• https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260511/bessent-says-will-visit-seoul-ahead-of-trump-xi-summit