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Xi to discuss tariffs and artificial intelligence with Trump in Washington
Chinese President Xi will travel to Washington from September 23 to 25 at Donald Trump’s invitation. The summit is expected to address tariffs, technology restrictions, Iran, energy security and artificial intelligence safety.
Scraper SystemUpdated:
Chinese President Xi is scheduled to make an official visit to Washington from September 23 to 25 at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump and his wife, Melania, are expected to host Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House on September 24 and 25.
The two leaders are expected to discuss preserving the interim agreements reached previously and guiding bilateral relations within the framework of a “constructive strategic stability relationship.” Tariffs, technology restrictions and control over rare earth elements will be among the main points of disagreement at the summit.
The Iran issue and the impact of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East on global energy security are also expected to come up in the Washington talks. Artificial intelligence safety and the establishment of a dialogue between the two countries that includes a warning mechanism will also be among the issues discussed.
Terms of the Busan agreement
During Trump’s second term, relations between the United States and China had become strained because of tariff increases, technology restrictions and China’s steps concerning rare earth element exports.
At a meeting between Trump and Xi in the South Korean city of Busan in October 2025, the sides reached an interim agreement on some of their disputes. They agreed to postpone the additional 24% tariffs imposed under reciprocal tariff measures for one year starting November 10, 2025.
China pledged to take the necessary steps to regulate exports of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals. The United States announced that it would reduce the additional 20% tariff imposed on China to 10%, citing its assessment that China’s measures in this area were insufficient.
On September 29, the Washington administration postponed for one year the entry into force of a rule covering partnerships in which foreign companies on the export-control list hold more than a 50% stake. China also agreed on October 9 to postpone for one year the measures it had adopted concerning export controls on rare earth elements.
Following its Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, the United States had decided to impose additional port fees per ton on Chinese vessels using U.S. ports. China announced that it would also postpone its retaliatory measures for one year.
Washington-Beijing trade agenda
During Trump’s visit to China in May, the sides agreed to maintain the interim understandings reached on economic competition and trade issues. These understandings included the reciprocal removal of non-tariff barriers on some agricultural and food products, China’s purchase of passenger aircraft from the United States, and negotiations on reciprocal tariff reductions for certain products.
The two countries also decided to establish a “Trade Board” and an “Investment Board” to address their mutual concerns in trade and investment. Through the Trade Board, they agreed to negotiate reciprocal tariff reductions on certain products and, in principle, to apply tariff reductions to equal quantities of goods.
The United States and China also reached agreement on arrangements for China to purchase passenger aircraft from the United States and for the United States to guarantee the supply of aircraft engines and spare parts.
Iran and energy transport
The Iran issue is expected to be on the summit’s agenda. Despite the understanding reached in June, conflicts in the Middle East have not ended and have caused disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for global energy trade.
Disruptions to energy shipments could spread to the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The risk could increase if the Iran-backed Houthis, who are fighting government forces in Yemen, seize settlements along the Red Sea coast.
A week before the visit, Trump signed the “Lindsey O. Graham 2026 Russia and Iran Sanctions Act,” which expands sanctions on Iran and allows additional tariffs of up to 100% and secondary sanctions on countries importing oil and natural gas from Russia. The move is intended to strengthen Washington’s leverage in negotiations with China, which is considered one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas.
Dialogue plan for artificial intelligence safety
Artificial intelligence safety is also expected to be discussed at the meeting between Xi and Trump. The two countries plan to launch an artificial intelligence dialogue that includes establishing a “warning mechanism” for potential risks.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden and Xi agreed during their meeting in San Francisco in November 2023 to establish a joint working group on artificial intelligence. However, no concrete step was subsequently taken on the matter.
Before Xi’s visit, delegations led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held preparatory talks. The sides reached a consensus in those talks on launching an artificial intelligence dialogue that would also include a warning mechanism.
The approaches of the United States and China to artificial intelligence governance differ. The United States seeks to establish safety mechanisms against the risks artificial intelligence systems could create, while China advocates a broader global artificial intelligence governance framework.
U.S. artificial intelligence developers allege that Chinese companies steal data from their own models through a method known as “distillation” and are urging the Washington administration to take measures to prevent the practice.
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