Trump arrives in Beijing for high-stakes talks with Xi as trade, Taiwan and Iran dominate agenda

Beijing, May 13. United States President Donald Trump landed in Beijing on May 13 for a crucial summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid rising global tensions and weeks of unsuccessful American efforts to persuade China to help bring Iran back to negotiations and stabilise the Strait of Hormuz.

The two leaders of the world’s largest economies are scheduled to meet over two days, marking Trump’s first visit to China since 2017. While Trump has indicated he will have a “long talk” with Xi on Iran, he has made it clear that trade will remain the primary focus of the visit. Discussions are also expected to cover Taiwan, artificial intelligence, technology restrictions and global supply chains.

Why the summit is significant

The meeting comes at a time of deepening strategic rivalry and economic interdependence between the US and China. Originally planned earlier this year, the summit was postponed due to the war involving Iran.

Experts say the talks carry weight not just because of the issues on the table, but because of the broader geopolitical uncertainty. Trade offers Trump a politically accessible narrative ahead of the November midterm elections, but analysts argue the underlying tensions relate to the future balance of global power and legitimacy.

Despite their rivalry, both countries remain heavily dependent on each other: the US on China’s manufacturing capacity, and China on American markets, technology and financial stability.

Diverging priorities

Washington is expected to push for increased Chinese purchases of US goods such as aircraft, beef and soya beans, alongside greater trade and investment cooperation. Beijing, on the other hand, is likely to press for easing US restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports and access to chip-making technologies.

Trump has also indicated he will raise the case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai during the discussions.

Technology versus rare earths

A major sticking point is expected to be the battle over semiconductors and critical minerals. The US has tightened controls on chip exports to slow China’s military and AI progress. In response, China, which dominates rare earth refining globally, has imposed export controls on key minerals, affecting American automotive and aerospace sectors.

Washington wants the resumption of rare earth supplies, while Beijing seeks relief from technology curbs.

Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz

The conflict involving Iran is likely to be closely examined during the talks. The US hopes China will use its influence over Tehran, particularly as Beijing buys the vast majority of Iran’s oil exports.

Both countries have a shared interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for energy flows, although analysts believe China is unlikely to align closely with Washington’s approach towards Iran.

Taiwan: a sensitive fault line

Taiwan remains one of the most delicate issues in US-China relations. Beijing views the self-ruled island as its territory and has stepped up military activity around it. Meanwhile, the US continues to support Taiwan’s defence under its long-standing legal commitments and has approved billions of dollars in arms sales.

Observers say the exact wording used by both leaders after the summit will be closely scrutinised in Taipei, particularly regarding US support for Taiwan’s defence and arms supplies.

Tariffs and trade truce

Trade tensions remain unresolved after years of tariff exchanges. Although both sides recently agreed to a temporary truce and some tariff reductions, tariffs on many goods had previously surged above 100 percent, disrupting global supply chains.

What success would look like

For Trump, a successful summit would involve visible outcomes such as Chinese purchase commitments, tariff movement, cooperation on Iran, or progress on rare earth exports – results that can be presented as concrete wins at home.

For Xi, success would mean maintaining stability, securing economic predictability, and avoiding any perception of yielding to US pressure while reinforcing China’s status as a global power.

Analysts suggest a comprehensive deal is unlikely. Instead, a limited agreement – perhaps involving tariff pauses, purchase commitments and rare earth arrangements – may temporarily ease tensions without resolving the deeper structural rivalry between the two nations.