The United States has proposed a new notification mechanism for artificial intelligence incidents affecting national security, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The proposal emerged during weekend discussions in New York ahead of bilateral talks in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We want a vision shared of common objectives and common threats. We think that, just like any cross-border activity, moving from opacity to greater transparency between the number 1 and number 2 AI powers in the world is very important,” Bessent told reporters on Sunday, following meetings with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Bilateral Trade Talks and AI Transparency in New York
The AI risk notification framework represents a concrete initial outcome from preparatory talks held at the JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joined Bessent on Sunday evening to confirm that both nations laid the groundwork for the Thursday summit between Trump and Xi.
According to Greer, both sides agreed to operationalize a new Trade Board that the two leaders initially discussed in Beijing last May. “Today those ideas have become reality,” Greer stated. State-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that Bessent and He held frank, deep, and constructive economic talks, noting that the officials addressed AI-related matters without providing specific operational details.
Tariff Discussions and Sector-Specific Goods
Alongside emerging technology protocols, US and Chinese officials addressed commercial tariff structures. Greer noted that both delegations actively debated which non-sensitive items might qualify for reduced tariffs. Potential categories under discussion include consumer goods, agricultural products, energy items, and medical devices.
The discussions unfold as the US administration maintains its position on domestic technology development. Trump has consistently resisted calls to slow down artificial intelligence innovation, arguing that deceleration would allow China to close the gap with American firms.
Precedent and Regional Implications
George Chen, a partner and digital practice chair at consultancy The Asia Group, noted that the initial result creates a framework that other global jurisdictions might eventually adopt.
“The fact that both parties have agreed to continue the dialogue is significant,” Chen said. “The result initial — a mechanism for notifying AI risks — sets a precedent that other countries could follow.”
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