Trump and Xi: What Each Side Wants From the Washington Summit

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Washington, extending a trade truce by two months until January 10, 2027, to manage their superpower rivalry rather than achieve a grand deal. The leaders aim to control economic, technological, and geopolitical competition while avoiding immediate escalation. The US seeks to prevent China from restricting rare earth exports, increase Chinese purchases of American goods, and gain cooperation on fentanyl. China wants predictable trade terms, relief from technology restrictions, and limits on US arms sales to Taiwan. Both discussed an AI safety communication channel but remain deeply suspicious. Diverging interests persist on Iran and Ukraine, where China maintains ties with Russia. Beijing also uses the visit to project itself as a stabilizing force for the Global South. Success will likely be measured by maintaining open dialogue, not by signed agreements.