Trump and Xi seek trade stability as AI, tariffs, and Iran loom over Washington summit

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will meet in Washington seeking trade stability and economic wins, but disputes over artificial intelligence, tariffs, and Iran sanctions threaten to disrupt their fragile trade truce. The summit comes with Trump facing low approval on the economy ahead of the midterm election, giving him added incentive to tout trade deals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China has not fully fulfilled deliverables from their Busan agreement, while both nations continue imposing high tariffs on each other's goods. The current trade truce expires Nov. 10, a week after the U.S. election, with analysts expecting a one-year extension. AI competition and U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's financial enablers, which affect China as Tehran's top trading partner, will also feature prominently in the talks.