Overview
- Delegations led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng finished two days of meetings at the OECD, with participants calling the discussions constructive and stable.
- Sources said Beijing signaled openness to additional U.S. agricultural purchases such as poultry and beef and reaffirmed plans to buy 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually for three years.
- Negotiators addressed access to Chinese-controlled critical minerals and magnets, with U.S. officials citing aerospace shortages including yttrium and exploring steps to ease supplies.
- Both sides worked on formal mechanisms for managed trade and investment, including a proposed U.S.-China Board of Trade and a Board of Investment for the leaders to consider.
- China warned that new U.S. Section 301 investigations could harm ties, while U.S. officials said any delay to the March 31–April 2 meeting would reflect the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions rather than disputes with Beijing.