Trump and Xi meet as allied strains weaken U.S. pressure on China

President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday facing a China that has proven harder to isolate, with U.S. allies increasingly reluctant to join Washington's pressure campaign. Beijing has deepened global trade ties, with its surplus on pace to hit a record $1.2 trillion for 2025, while Trump's tariffs and spats have strained alliances. China controls over 87% of rare-earth refining, and its export controls have disrupted U.S. and allied production. A $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan awaits Trump's approval, which he has called a "negotiating chip." Public confidence in U.S. reliability has fallen sharply in Canada and Germany, complicating efforts to form a united front.