Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Washington this week for a high-stakes summit with President Trump. It’s his first visit to the US in three years. The one-day meeting is set for September 24, and the agenda is packed.
Trade, artificial intelligence, the Iran war, and Taiwan all sit at the top of the list. Officials on both sides have spent weeks laying the groundwork before the two leaders even sat down.
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Fentanyl And Trade Top The Agenda
The US wants China to do more on fentanyl. American officials say Chinese chemical companies remain the biggest source of precursor chemicals used by cartels in Mexico.
A senior US official told reporters that China hasn’t elevated the issue the way Washington wants. China remains the dominant supplier of these chemicals, despite past promises to crack down.
Trade sits right alongside it. The two countries reached a one-year truce in Busan back in October 2025. Under that deal, China agreed to resume buying US soybeans and other farm products. In return, Washington lowered some tariffs on Chinese goods.
Both sides may look to extend that truce at this summit. China wants tariffs cut further. The US is reportedly open to reducing duties on non-strategic goods, though sensitive sectors will likely stay protected.
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China Wants Looser Chip Export Rules
Xi is expected to press Trump on America’s export controls. These rules restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductors used to build AI systems.
Chinese officials have called the restrictions an attempt to slow their economic growth. They argue the controls go beyond national security and into pure economic competition.
Trump has pushed back on a different AI worry altogether. Some American AI executives have warned about the pace of AI development and called for more caution. Trump has rejected those concerns, calling them a hoax. He’s warned that slowing down could hand China the lead in the AI race instead.
Even with the disagreement, AI safety is expected to be a major topic between the two leaders. Analysts say growing global pressure around AI risks has added urgency to this part of the talks.
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Rare Earths Remain A Sticking Point
Rare earth minerals are another flashpoint. The US depends heavily on China for materials used in smartphones, cars, wind turbines, and aircraft engines.
China has used export restrictions on these minerals as leverage in trade talks for years. Washington wants more stability in that supply chain, especially with AI and defense manufacturing both depending on steady access.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already met with Chinese officials to lay groundwork on this issue. Those meetings followed a pattern set over the past 16 months, where top officials from both sides meet in advance to prepare possible agreements for Trump and Xi.
Iran And Taiwan Also On The Table
China’s relationship with Iran is expected to come up too. The US wants Chinese cooperation on pressuring Iran, especially after recent US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive topics between the two countries. China has repeatedly said that how the US handles Taiwan will shape the broader relationship. Officials close to the talks say Beijing wants clear signals from Washington on this front before offering movement elsewhere.
Trump’s stated goals for the summit reportedly include getting help on Iran, boosting US sales to China, and finding some kind of stability on regional tensions. Experts note these goals are broader and less specific than China’s asks, which center on tariffs, Taiwan, and technology access.
A Complicated Relationship, Three Years In The Making
This marks Xi’s first visit to Washington since his last US trip three years ago. The two leaders have met in person more recently elsewhere, including a state visit by Trump to Beijing back in May.
Experts say the relationship remains fragile despite the recent trade truce. The truce cooled a trade war that began in April 2025, but underlying tension over tariffs, technology, and regional security hasn’t gone away.
The US Supreme Court also struck down an earlier set of Trump-era tariffs tied to a national emergencies law, including some linked to fentanyl. The administration has been rebuilding tariff measures since then under different legal authority, including a new tariff tied to forced labor concerns.
What Happens Next
Officials from both countries have downplayed expectations for major breakthroughs at this single meeting. Analysts describe the summit as important, but unlikely to resolve the biggest disagreements between the two countries in one sitting.
Still, both sides see value in keeping direct talks going between the leaders themselves, rather than leaving everything to lower-level officials. Whether this meeting produces a new truce or just keeps tensions from escalating further, the outcome will shape US-China relations heading into the rest of the year.
FAQ
When is the Trump-Xi summit happening?
Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on September 23, 2026. The main summit with President Trump is scheduled for September 24.
What topics are on the agenda?
Trade, artificial intelligence, fentanyl, rare earth minerals, the Iran war, and Taiwan are all expected to come up during the talks.
Is there a new trade deal expected?
Both sides may extend the one-year trade truce reached in Busan in October 2025. China wants lower tariffs, and the US is considering cuts on some non-strategic goods.
Why does AI matter so much in these talks?
China wants the US to loosen chip export controls, while the US worries about China gaining ground in the AI race. Global concerns over AI safety have also added pressure to this part of the agenda.
What does China want on Taiwan?
China has said how the US handles Taiwan will shape the broader relationship. Beijing wants clearer signals from Washington on this issue.
Will this summit fix US-China relations?
Experts don’t expect a full resolution. Analysts describe the meeting as important for reducing tension, but unlikely to solve the biggest disagreements in one sitting.
