Trump welcomes Xi to Washington looking for a trade win
SPY•Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping to Washington for a summit expected to focus on stable ties, with major breakthroughs not expected. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiators agreed to extend a trade-war pause until January 10; analysts see a possible extension of the broader trade truce expiring in November.
1. Summit expectations
Trump welcomed Xi to the White House for a state summit, the leaders’ second meeting this year and Xi’s first visit to Washington in more than a decade. Analysts say tangible outcomes are likely to be limited, with an extension of the trade truce and discussions of artificial-intelligence risks among the possibilities.
2. Trade and technology
Bessent said the United States and China agreed to extend until January 10 an agreement that paused a trade war in which mutual tariffs topped 100%. Trump said the leaders would discuss AI but that he did not expect substantive policy moves. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the countries would make announcements on agriculture and non-tariff barriers.
3. Tensions remain
Xi appears to enter the summit in a stronger position after a surge in Chinese trade and with control over rare-earth supplies. Taiwan, export controls and AI remain potential sources of tension, while people familiar with US plans said Trump is likely to maintain firm export controls on US technology.
