Beijing has been pressing the US to further delay a rule that would bar thousands of Chinese firms from receiving advanced US technology, while Washington wants Beijing to ease shipments of rare earths and critical minerals vital for high-tech applications spanning automobile to aerospace manufacturing, as well as defense.
Experts say Trump has taken a less combative approach than usual ahead of his meeting with Xi because of China's growing power thanks to critical minerals. China controls up to 70% of global rare-earth mining, 85% of refining capacity, and about 90% of rare-earth metal alloy and magnet production, according to consultancy AlixPartners.
The Trump administration has so far not threatened to slap steep tariffs on Chinese imports or to ban exports of US technology, in contrast to the aggressive stances that preceded previous summits. Last year, in retaliation against Trump's tariffs, China curbed rare earth exports and sent shockwaves through world markets.
US allies in Asia have grown increasingly concerned that in order to lock in economic wins, Trump may be tempted to soften Washington's support for Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by China.
Taiwan strongly objects to the sovereignty claims.
While the US, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is its most important international backer and arms supplier.
Trump said Xi pressed him on US arms sales to Taiwan during the May visit, with the US president later describing a pending package worth up to $14 billion as a "negotiating chip".
As well as arms, people familiar with Chinese efforts told Reuters that Beijing also hopes to persuade Trump to state publicly that the US opposes Taiwan's independence instead of saying only that it does not support independence, which has been Washington's formulation for decades.
Any US shift on Taiwan would be highly controversial, raising questions about Washington's resolve to defend the island and provoking opposition in Congress.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea and reiterated the US commitment to the defense of those key Asian allies, and the three nations expressed support for Taiwan.
In a letter to Trump on Friday, John Moolenaar, Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on China, wrote in a reference to Taiwan and US allies in Asia that Chinese objections to US arms sales and security cooperation should be "rejected out of hand."
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