US–China Trade Talks in 2026: Article & Activity Pack! Topic: Trade, Minerals & AI

A timely US–China AI, Trade & Critical Minerals current events newspaper and activity pack helps young readers understand why three subjects that may initially seem separate—artificial intelligence, international trade and critical minerals—are increasingly connected. The main reading introduces planned talks in New York led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of a planned meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. 

Included in this news newspaper/article package:

Main US–China Talks Article – introduces the upcoming New York meeting and the three central areas expected to be discussed: AI, trade and tariffs, and critical minerals. It explains that the United States and China are two enormous trading economies that continue to disagree over tariffs and other trading rules (page 1).

Trade, Tariffs & Supply Chains – explains a tariff as a tax on imported goods and introduces how tariffs can affect what companies pay to bring products into a country, with costs potentially moving further through the supply chain. The article also explains that officials are expected to discuss their existing trade truce and unresolved disagreements (pages 1–2). 

Critical Minerals & Rare-Earth Materials – introduces critical minerals as natural materials particularly important to modern economies and technologies. Learners discover that rare-earth elements are used in electronics and advanced technologies and consider why reliable supplies can matter to factories and technology companies far beyond the two countries directly involved in the negotiations (page 2).

Artificial Intelligence & Safeguards – explains that the US and China are major forces in advanced AI development and that officials have been preparing to discuss ways of reducing some AI risks, including possible safeguards around advanced systems (page 2).

Fast Facts – seven quick-reference facts reinforce the size of the US and Chinese economies, both countries’ roles in AI development, the meaning of tariffs, the importance of rare-earth elements, the connection between trade rules and supply chains, the planned Trump–Xi summit and expectations that progress may come through smaller agreements rather than one huge breakthrough (page 2).

History Corner – US–China Trade – explores how the economic relationship between the two countries has changed over several decades. It covers expanding trade alongside disagreements involving tariffs, technology, manufacturing, market access and national security, before showing how advanced technology and AI have become increasingly important parts of the modern relationship (page 3).

How AI, Trade & Minerals Connect – brings the three themes together by showing how a computer may require specialised minerals for its components, international trade may be needed to obtain those materials and sell finished products, and governments are simultaneously considering how powerful AI systems should be developed and used (page 3).

Discussion & Critical Thinking Corners – six extended-response questions encourage learners to think about why countries continue negotiating despite disagreements, dependence on another country for important minerals, connections between trade and technology, how tariffs can reach businesses and shoppers, why AI safety may require international discussion, and why smaller agreements may sometimes be easier to achieve than one enormous deal (page 4).

World Trade Reporter Activity – learners imagine covering the New York meeting and write a short report explaining AI, TRADE & TARIFFS, and CRITICAL MINERALS. For each topic, they consider what it means, why the two countries are discussing it and how it could affect other countries. The Reporter Challenge asks learners to keep their reporting balanced and recognise that different governments have their own priorities (page 5).

Riddle Time + Joke Time – includes a critical-minerals riddle and a computer-chip trade joke linked directly to the subject of the reading (page 5).

Activity 1 – What’s Inside Our Technology? – a drawing/sketch and information-mapping task asks learners to draw a giant smartphone, computer or electric vehicle and surround it with three information bubbles: MATERIALS, TRADE and TECHNOLOGY. Students use arrows to show the connections and finish by considering why countries care about reliable access to important materials (page 5).

Kids’ Quiz – Test Your Knowledge – six multiple-choice questions check understanding of where the talks are expected to take place, what a tariff is, rare-earth materials, why those materials matter, AI as another discussion topic and why a meeting does not necessarily mean every US–China disagreement will be resolved (page 6).

DIY Activity – Become an International Negotiator – learners create their own Mini US–China Agreement containing three sections. Under TRADE, they suggest one way to reduce a trade disagreement; under MINERALS, an idea for making supplies more reliable; and under AI, a safeguard both countries could discuss. Learners must also explain why representatives from both countries might consider each idea useful (page 7).

Person Profile – Scott Bessent – introduces the US Treasury Secretary and explains why the Treasury Department makes him an important figure in economic discussions between Washington and Beijing. It also identifies Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng as the senior Chinese official he is expected to meet and connects their discussions with the planned Trump–Xi meeting (pages 7–8). 

Special Topic Word Bank – defines seven useful terms appearing throughout the resource: Tariff, Critical Minerals, Rare Earths, Trade, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Guard Rails and Summit (page 8).

To Sum Things Up – brings together the three central themes and reinforces the idea that international trade, minerals and modern technology are interconnected. The resource explains how minerals can become computer components, components can cross borders, tariffs can influence their cost and finished technologies may ultimately run powerful AI systems (pages 8–9). 

Educational Notes & Disclaimers – includes the resource’s educational-use, affiliation, accuracy and creation notes (page 9).

Important Reminder for Young Readers + Safety Tips – encourages children to remember that news can change and different viewpoints may be presented, while promoting thoughtful questions, trusted adults and calm engagement with world news (page 10).

Kids’ Quiz Answer Key – provides the complete answers to all six multiple-choice questions in two Quick Checksections for straightforward teacher or parent marking (page 11).

This complete article package combines a current-events reading with Fast Facts, US–China trade history, six critical-thinking questions, a balanced World Trade Reporter task, technology drawing/sketch activity, six-question quiz with answers, DIY International Negotiator activity, Scott Bessent profile and specialist vocabulary. The activities repeatedly connect the three central ideas—AI, trade and critical minerals—rather than treating them as unrelated topics.

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