U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the U.S.

might extend a pause on import duties on Chinese goods beyond the usual three months if China cancels plans for strict new export controls on rare-earth elements.

“Is it possible that we could go to a longer roll in return? Perhaps.

But all that’s going to be negotiated in the coming weeks,” Bessent said at a Washington press conference.

The two countries have maintained a series of 90-day truces since earlier this year, with the next one due in November.

After months of relative calm, tensions have risen recently as Washington expanded tech restrictions and proposed levies on Chinese ships entering U.S.

ports, prompting China to respond with parallel measures and tighter controls on rare earths and other critical materials.