Any recommendations for removing rust spots on handlebars?

WD-40 and a rag will take off minor spots.

Also, oxalic acid (deck wash) and things like naval jelly will take off serious rust - if you search on these there are lots of threads with good advice.

If the rust is not that deep or large areas, try rubbing some crumpled aluminum foil on it first.......it's a trick that most of us C&Vers use to deal with minor surface rust on chrome. You'll be surprised how well it works. I also sometimes combine it with a spritz of WD40 and it seems to help speed up the rust removal in most cases.

Chombi

Crumpled up aluminum foil used with an automobile cleaner/wax will do a good job of removing rust and leave a protective wax film. This assumes the rusting is small and limited. If the bars are badly rusted, discard them and get new ones.

Chrome polish and a rag works nicely on bare chrome and aluminum. It can be a lot of work though. Are your bars bare or painted a color? I've never attempted to remove rust from a painted surface, other than to strip it, sand, and repaint.

There's a few small rust spots on the handlebars. Bike is a 7 month old Schwinn Avenue Hybrid.

Steel wool, Brillo pad, Scotch-Brite pad, fine sandpaper, crumpled aluminum foil, Cromax, emery board, wire brush, fine grit sanding bit on Dremal, (I'm a fleet mechanic, I could go on for days or daze or is it haze?)

A Brillo pad soaked in white vinegar works well for me.

Use baby oil with Brillo pad or ultra steel wool. Not as hard on the skin & smell's good.

Aluminum foil with a spritz of WD40 did the job. Thanks for all the suggestions!