U.S. and China meet ahead of Washington summit.
Today's events
China trade talks.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meet Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on September 20, ahead of a U.S.–China summit in Washington.1Sep 18 · USTRDrug-transit list.
The President listed 23 countries as major drug transit or producing states — China and India among them — and designated Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, and Colombia as failing their counternarcotics obligations.2Sep 18 · Fed. Reg.Skilled-worker visas.
A proclamation extended the $100,000 fee on certain H-1B petitions another 12 months, to September 21, 2027; more than 700 petitions have paid it since 2025.3Sep 19 · WHLithuania minerals deal.
Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Budrys signed a U.S.–Lithuania critical-minerals framework to strengthen advanced-technology and defense supply chains; Lithuania met its defense-spending target ahead of schedule.4Sep 18 · StateSaudi arms sale.
A Senate joint resolution introduced September 16 would disapprove a proposed U.S. sale of defense articles and services to the government of Saudi Arabia.5Sep 19 · SenateIndiana coal plants.
Energy Secretary Wright ordered two Indiana coal plants kept available through December 18; units at the Schahfer and Culley stations had been scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025.6Sep 19 · DOEGambia corruption money.
The Justice Department returned $2.5 million forfeited from a Potomac, Maryland mansion bought with funds embezzled by former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, to compensate victims of his rule.7Sep 18 · DOJUnderwater drones.
The State Department removed uncrewed underwater vehicles up to 8,000 pounds from the U.S. Munitions List unless built for advanced navigation, moving them to Commerce Department export controls on October 19.8Sep 18 · Fed. Reg.Beretta and Ruger.
The Federal Trade Commission put a proposed consent order with the two gun makers on the public record, settling claims of unfair methods of competition; comments close October 19.9Sep 18 · FTC
Allied Governments
NATO chiefs of defence.
Thirty-two allied chiefs of defence met in Copenhagen on September 18–19 and elected Germany's General Carsten Breuer as the next chair of NATO's Military Committee, from summer 2027.aSep 19 · NATOFalklands pressure.
Britain's overseas territories minister said Argentina has threatened businesses supplying the Falkland Islands, including in the hydrocarbons sector, and called the charges legally unjustified.bSep 18 · UK FCDOPeacekeeping review.
At the Security Council, Britain backed the Secretary-General's review of UN peace operations and pressed member states to pay assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions.cSep 18 · UK FCDO
Voices
“[The] United States and China are deepening their engagement to facilitate mutually beneficial trade between the two largest economies in the world.”
U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer · Sep 181
“While my Administration has successfully secured our borders from invasion, Canada and Mexico need to do far more to stop the flows of deadly drugs into our country.”
Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit Countries · Sep 182
“[The H-1B program] has been exploited to replace, not supplement, American workers with lower-paid labor.”
Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers · Sep 193
“Forcing reliable, dispatchable coal generation off the grid would compromise energy reliability and needlessly raises energy costs for Americans.”
Energy Sec. Chris Wright · Sep 196
“This case is an important example of international cooperation to hold accountable those who use our financial system to attempt to hide illicit criminal proceeds.”
AAG A. Tysen Duva, DOJ Criminal Division · Sep 187
“The Department maintains the [U.S. Munitions List] such that it comprises those defense articles or defense services that provide a critical military or intelligence advantage.”
Interim final rule, International Traffic in Arms Regulations · Sep 188
Sources
- USTR, “Ambassador Greer to Travel to New York,” September 18, 2026. ustr.gov/…/greer-travel-new-york
- Federal Register, “Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2027,” September 18, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/drug-transit-countries-fy2027
- White House, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” (Proclamation), September 19, 2026. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…/restriction-on-entry
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Foreign Minister Budrys,” September 18, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-budrys
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, “S.J. Res. 216 — Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles and services,” introduced September 16, 2026. govinfo.gov/app/details/…/119sjres216is
- U.S. Dept. of Energy, “Trump Administration Moves to Keep Indiana Coal Plants Operating to Support Grid Reliability,” September 19, 2026. energy.gov/articles/…/indiana-coal-plants
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Department of Justice Returns Approximately $2.5 Million in Corruption Proceeds for Victims of the Ex-President of The Gambia,” September 18, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/gambia-corruption-proceeds
- Federal Register, “International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Modification of U.S. Munitions List Category XX(a),” September 18, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/itar-munitions-list-xx-a
- Federal Trade Commission, “Beretta and Ruger; Analysis of Proposed Agreement Containing Consent Order To Aid Public Comment,” September 18, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/beretta-and-ruger-consent-order
- NATO News, “NATO Chiefs of Defence in Copenhagen met for the Military Committee Conference,” September 19, 2026. nato.int/news/…/military-committee-conference
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO), “Minister for Overseas Territories statement on the Falkland Islands: 18 September,” September 18, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/falkland-islands-statement
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO), “UK statement at the UN Security Council on UN Peacekeeping Operations,” September 18, 2026. gov.uk/government/speeches/…/un-peace-operations