Donald Trump is set to travel to China from May 13 to 15 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as both countries seek to manage ongoing trade tensions and maintain a fragile tariff truce.
The visit will mark the first trip to China by a U.S. president in nearly a decade and comes at a critical time for relations between the world’s two largest economies. Executives from major U.S. companies, including Boeing, Citigroup, and Qualcomm, are also expected to join the visit as businesses look for potential commercial opportunities with Chinese firms.
Trade tensions between the two countries escalated in 2018 when Trump introduced tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports as part of broader efforts to reshape U.S. trade relationships and support domestic manufacturing. Additional tariffs were later introduced on several other trading partners.
When former President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration maintained many of the existing tariffs on Chinese goods while also introducing additional restrictions on Chinese companies in sectors such as technology. Measures involving companies including Huawei and TikTok, as well as tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, reflected continued efforts to address trade and national security concerns.
After returning to office in 2025, Trump expanded tariff measures on Chinese goods, including additional duties tied to concerns over fentanyl-related trade issues. China responded with tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and other measures, increasing pressure on both economies.
A meeting between Trump and Xi in October resulted in both sides pausing planned tariff increases and easing some trade restrictions. China also resumed purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, while Washington reduced certain tariffs and eased some semiconductor restrictions. However, a long-term agreement has yet to be finalized.
Ahead of this week’s meeting, China has continued to expand trade partnerships globally while investing heavily in manufacturing, robotics, and domestic semiconductor production to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers such as Nvidia.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expected to push for increased Chinese purchases of U.S. goods, including soybeans and aircraft components. The discussions also come as recent U.S. court rulings have challenged parts of Trump’s broader tariff policies, adding further uncertainty to trade negotiations.
The upcoming meeting is expected to play a significant role in shaping future trade relations between Washington and Beijing as global markets monitor potential developments in tariffs, supply chains, and cross-border investment.
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