Trump and Xi Meet in Beijing: Key Issues Dominating the US-China Summit

US President Donald Trump has left Washington for Beijing to attend a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, following weeks of unsuccessful US efforts to persuade China to help bring Iran back to the negotiating table and de-escalate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

The leaders of the world's two largest economies are scheduled to meet on Thursday and Friday, in Trump's first visit to China since 2017. Talks are expected to center on trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and the war involving Iran.

Below are the key issues likely to dominate the summit agenda.

Why the Trump-Xi Summit Matters

The Trump-Xi summit is a high-level meeting between the two leaders as the world's largest economies face rising tensions over trade, technology, Taiwan, and the Iran war.

The meeting is particularly significant as it marks the first visit by a US leader to China in nearly a decade. The talks take place amid growing geopolitical and economic instability. Originally expected earlier this year, the meeting was delayed because of the war in Iran.

Before departing for Beijing, Trump said he and Xi would have a "long talk" about Iran, though he emphasized that trade would remain the main focus of the visit.

Salvador Santino Regilme, associate professor and director of the international relations program at Leiden University, noted: "Trade still holds political power, especially for Trump, because it creates a language of competition that voters can easily understand. However, deeper conflicts revolve around hierarchy, legitimacy, and the future architecture of the global order."

Regilme added that both countries remain locked in a relationship shaped by strategic competition and deep economic interdependence: "The US remains heavily reliant on China's manufacturing capacity and low costs, while China depends on access to American consumers, technology, capital markets, and the stability of the dollar-centric global economy."

"This is the paradox of US-China competition: each side wants more autonomy, but both remain bound to a structure of mutual dependence that neither can easily break without harming itself."

The Biggest Issues at the Trump-Xi Summit

Analysts say the US and China enter the summit with different priorities.

Trump is expected to focus heavily on trade, aiming to secure economic wins he can present before the November midterm elections. Washington has pressured China to increase purchases of US goods, including Boeing aircraft, beef, and soybeans, while seeking closer investment and trade cooperation.

Beijing, meanwhile, is expected to push the US to ease restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports and roll back measures limiting China's access to key chip-making technology. Taiwan is also likely to remain one of the most sensitive and contentious issues at the summit.

Trump also said he plans to raise the case of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy figure who was imprisoned earlier this year under Beijing's national security law.

Beyond bilateral disputes, the two leaders are expected to discuss the war in Iran, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and growing risks related to artificial intelligence.

Technology vs. Rare Earths

Technology and supply chains are expected to be a central focus at the summit, as Washington and Beijing remain locked in an expanding battle over semiconductors and critical minerals.

The US has tightened restrictions on advanced chips and chip-making equipment to China, arguing the measures are necessary to slow Beijing's military and AI development.

China, which controls about 90% of global rare earth refining—materials essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles, military equipment, and electronics—has retaliated with tighter export controls on certain critical minerals.

Beijing is expected to push for a reduction in US technology restrictions, while Washington wants China to resume shipments of rare earths and critical minerals after export controls disrupted some US automotive and aerospace sectors.

Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz

The Iran war is expected to be one of the most closely watched issues at the summit.

Analysts predict Washington will push Beijing to use its influence over Tehran, especially as China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, accounting for over 80% of Iran's crude exports. US officials have also called on China to support efforts to reopen and protect the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.

The conflict has also increased pressure on China's economy and energy security. About half of China's crude oil imports come from the Middle East, while disruption in the Persian Gulf makes commercial shipping vulnerable to attacks and delays.

Dan Grazier, senior fellow and director of the National Security Reform program at the Stimson Center, said: "I have no doubt that Trump will at least try to enlist Xi Jinping to pressure the Iranians to return to the negotiating table and agree to a solution."

Experts suggest Iran may be one of the few areas where US and Chinese interests align, as both countries benefit from a stable flow of energy through the Persian Gulf.

Gregory Poling, director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted: "Both sides want to see the strait reopened." However, he cautioned that Beijing is unlikely to align too closely with Washington's approach to Tehran.

While China wants shipping through the Strait of Hormuz restored, Poling argued that the diplomatic and strategic pressure from the disruption weighs more heavily on Washington: "It's not China being humiliated in the strait... It's the US."

Taiwan: A Matter of Survival

Taiwan is expected to be one of the most sensitive issues, with Beijing consistently warning it is the biggest source of tension in US-China relations.

China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years through regular air and naval operations around the island.

Tensions have risen further under Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing sharply criticizes because his party considers Taiwan already a sovereign state.

The US officially recognizes mainland China as China but is legally bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to support Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, a long-standing policy that angers Beijing. Washington has approved tens of billions of dollars in arms sales to Taiwan over the years, including an $11 billion package announced last year, and Trump recently said he had discussed the issue with Xi ahead of the summit.

Analysts say Taiwan will closely watch what Trump and Xi say publicly after the summit, especially regarding defense and arms sales.

"The exact wording matters," Regilme said. "Will Trump reaffirm support for Taiwan's defense, will he appear ambiguous about arms sales, and will he create any rhetorical space for Xi to claim that Washington is restraining Taipei?"

Regilme said Beijing will likely push for limits on US arms sales and stronger political restrictions on Taiwan, while discouraging any moves toward formal independence. At the same time, Taipei fears it could become part of a broader geopolitical deal between Washington and Beijing.

"In great power politics, small words often carry big consequences, especially for those whose survival depends on the credibility of others," Regilme added.

Tariffs

Trade is also predicted to be a sticking point after years of US-China friction over tariffs and economic competition.

The latest trade dispute escalated last year when Trump imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods. China retaliated with tariffs of its own.

At the peak of tensions, tariffs on some goods exceeded 100%, raising concerns about the impact on global trade and supply chains.

The two countries later agreed to temporarily de-escalate tensions through a trade ceasefire reached during talks in South Korea. Under the deal, China agreed to buy more US agricultural products, including soybeans, while Washington rolled back some tariffs.

What Would a Successful Outcome Look Like for Trump and Xi?

Analysts say a successful outcome for Trump likely needs to be visible and politically sellable at home. That could include Chinese purchases of US goods, progress on tariffs, cooperation on Iran, or advances on rare earth exports.

"Trump's foreign policy style places immense value on the public display of deals, so the image of success can be nearly as important as the substantive content," Regilme said.

For Xi, success means maintaining stability without appearing submissive to Washington, while securing greater economic predictability and recognition of China as a global power.

"A comprehensive trade deal seems unlikely because the structural competition remains unresolved," Regilme added.

Instead, a limited deal is more probable, potentially involving a tariff pause, purchase commitments, a rare earth agreement, or a framework for future talks.

"Such a deal would manage competition temporarily, while leaving the deeper issue intact: the two economies remain interdependent, but their governments increasingly view that dependence as a strategic danger."