Bessent May Skip APEC Finance Meet To Focus On Trump’s Shenzhen Visit

Washington will instead send a deputy to the Apec finance ministers’ gathering in Hong Kong, as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to focus on preparations for President Donald Trump’s visit to Shenzhen in November.

The change would place the US delegation at the Hong Kong meeting under Erin Browne, Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, who is the leading candidate to head it.

A source familiar with the situation said the delegation is expected to attend on October 20 and 21.

Bessent expected to meet Chinese vice-premier

Bessent is expected to meet Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Shenzhen ahead of Trump’s visit, according to the report.

Trump is expected to hold talks with President Xi Jinping during the visit.

The Shenzhen meeting is being prioritised as Washington and Beijing seek to secure a longer extension of their bilateral trade truce.

The truce is due to expire on January 10.

Bessent may therefore skip the meeting of Apec finance ministers in Hong Kong later this month to concentrate on the discussions in Shenzhen.

Focus shifts to November summit

The Treasury secretary’s expected travel decision comes as the two sides prepare for Trump’s visit, described as historic in the report.

The discussions between Bessent and He are expected to take place before the summit involving Trump and Xi.

The immediate issue is the future of the bilateral trade truce, whose extension is being pursued by both sides ahead of its expiry.

The Hong Kong gathering will still have US representation, with Browne identified as the leading candidate to lead Washington’s delegation.

The developments indicate that preparations for the Shenzhen meeting are taking priority over Bessent’s personal attendance at the Apec finance ministers’ gathering, according to the sources cited in the report.

Source: South China Morning Post