US presses China on trade pledges ahead of Trump-Xi talks
The US has urged China to meet its commitments on rare earths and agriculture under a nearly year-old trade agreement, ahead of meetings between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The Trump administration warned Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng that Beijing must implement its commitments immediately, particularly on delivery of rare earths and other critical minerals and agricultural purchases.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer made the warning in a call to He on Friday, emphasizing the importance of China taking concrete actions to fully implement its past commitments. The US agencies said the call was made to discuss the implementation of the pact agreed in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025.
Trade Agreement Commitments
Under the Busan agreement, the United States has limited tariffs on Chinese imports to roughly 20%—a level set during the final stretch of Donald Trump’s presidency. Meanwhile, China has agreed to purchase 25 million tons of American soybeans over the next three years and increase its overall imports of U.S. farm products by $17 billion.
According to the U.S. government, the agreement aims to reduce trade barriers introduced in 2025, when tensions between the world’s two largest economies led to a sharp rise in tariffs. The pact runs until January 10, and American officials will carefully evaluate whether China is fulfilling its obligations.
Upcoming Meetings
Presidents Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19, and the G-20 summit in Miami on December 14 and 15. The meetings come as the US and China continue to negotiate on trade issues, including the implementation of the Busan agreement.
In a post on social media, Bessent stressed that China must immediately and fully meet its obligations, expressing worries about recent actions by Beijing and insisting that meaningful progress requires tangible outcomes. The Chinese government has indicated that tariff reductions remain a key priority, with its commerce ministry noting that it is willing to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products, provided both nations follow through on their mutual tariff reductions.
