Trump and Xi seek stability amid AI, trade, and Iran tensions

President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week as economic and tech competition escalates, with no grand bargain expected but both seeking to steady fragile ties in their third meeting. The leaders meet after climbing down from last year's trade war, though they still blacklist companies and restrict high-tech exports. The AI race is a key battleground, with the U.S. proposing a new notification mechanism for AI incidents affecting national security. Persistent issues include Iran, where Beijing insists on trading with Tehran, and Taiwan, where Xi may press Trump to delay arms sales. Analysts say tariff levels are currently acceptable to both sides, but any significant uptick could rekindle tensions.