Bessent may skip Apec in Hong Kong to focus on Trump’s Shenzhen visit, sources say

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may skip a meeting of Apec finance ministers in Hong Kong later this month to focus on preparing for President Donald Trump’s historic visit to Shenzhen in November, sources told the South China Morning Post.Bessent is expected to meet Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Shenzhen ahead of Trump’s visit – when Trump will again hold talks with President Xi Jinping – as the two sides look to secure a longer extension of the bilateral trade truce, which is due to expire on January 10.With that taking priority, it is understood that Bessent wants to focus on the Shenzhen meeting.Washington will instead send a deputy to attend the gathering of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation finance ministers in Hong Kong. Erin Browne, Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, is the leading candidate to head the US delegation on October 20 and 21, a source familiar with the situation said.