Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to visit Washington for bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump. The meeting, scheduled for September 2026, comes as the two nations are trying to stabilize their relations and preserve a fragile trade truce. During his visit to China in May 2026, Trump invited Xi to meet at the White House in September, and the two leaders agreed to work towards stabilizing their bilateral relations.
Several key issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting, including tariffs, rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan. Despite the fragile truce, the two nations have continued to impose economic measures against each other. Some agreements reached during the May summit, such as China's commitment to ease access to rare earth minerals and purchase billions of dollars' worth of US agricultural products, remain unfulfilled.
China's objectives for the meeting are clear: to preserve the stability of bilateral relations, maintain access to commercial and technological flows, and retain its strategic advantage over the US, particularly in rare earth minerals. These materials are crucial for the production of various products, including electric vehicles and defense equipment, and China plans to impose strict export controls this autumn.
The US and China have different priorities, with Trump seeking to guarantee economic stability ahead of the midterm elections in November 2026. A stable economy is crucial for Trump, as many voters blame his administration and the Republican Party for economic difficulties and rising living costs. Xi, on the other hand, will likely focus on maintaining China's interests and influence.
The two leaders are unlikely to reach major agreements, but Trump may use the meeting to seek Xi's help on several issues, including Iran and Ukraine. Trump has previously pressured Xi to use China's influence to push Iran to accept US conditions and end the conflict in Ukraine. However, Xi has been reluctant to intervene in these matters.
Taiwan is another contentious issue that is likely to be discussed during the meeting. China considers Taiwan a red line and has long prioritized the island in its discussions with the US. The island's strategic importance has grown in recent years, particularly in the production of semiconductors, which are crucial for the US artificial intelligence sector.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to be on the agenda, with several industry figures warning about the existential threats posed by the technology. The issue is critical, with Trump emphasizing the need for the US to maintain its lead in AI development for national security reasons. Xi, on the other hand, has stressed that AI should not surpass human control and that China cannot tolerate US dominance in this strategic area.
Key points
- The meeting between Trump and Xi will focus on trade tensions, rare earth minerals, and artificial intelligence.
- The two leaders are unlikely to reach major agreements, but will seek to maintain stability in their bilateral relations.
- The meeting will also touch on sensitive issues, including Taiwan and US efforts to pressure China on Iran and Ukraine.
