Trump and Xi head into Washington summit, each betting time is on their side

President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet at the White House on Thursday with a packed agenda, including trade, Taiwan, and Iran, as both leaders believe time favors their respective positions in the world's most significant economic and security competition. The two sides agreed Wednesday to extend a one-year trade truce expiring Nov. 10 for two months, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying a larger deal could come by January. China seeks a permanent halt to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and looser chip export restrictions, while Washington urges Beijing to pressure Iran. Trump is hosting Xi with a state visit featuring a dinner with tech executives like Jeff Bezos and Jensen Huang, amid discussions on AI safeguards. A breakthrough on Iran appears unlikely, and analysts expect both leaders to manage for small gains and conflict avoidance.