JAW, JAW, IS BETTER THAN WAR, WAR: Treasury Sec. Bessent: Expecting ‘Pretty Big Breakthrough’ With China.

“The most important thing we are going to see is a meeting, a pull-aside meeting with President Trump and party chair Xi in Korea toward the end of the month,” Bessent said.

Bessent underscored the importance of the two leaders’ in-person engagement, adding, “What gives us great comfort is the respect that the two leaders have for each other. So it will be helpful for them to be able to speak in person and set the framework for trade going forward.”

Bessent expressed optimism for his own parallel trade talks with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng. “I think with President Trump’s leadership and his relationship, the respect party chair Xi has for him, that this round, which would be our fifth round of talks, should show a pretty big breakthrough,” he said.

Trump posted Wednesday on his Truth Social platform that his priority at the upcoming talks will be soybeans, as China has stopped buying the product grown in the U.S. over the last several months.

Also: Trump open to talks with Kim Jong Un ‘without any preconditions’ ahead of South Korea trip.