Trump hosts Xi for trade and AI talks in Washington

President Donald Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week for high-stakes talks on trade, artificial intelligence, and other economic issues, beginning Wednesday with an unusual greeting at Joint Base Andrews. The schedule includes a state dinner Thursday with tech CEOs and private closed-door meetings. Officials indicated potential tariff easing on nonstrategic goods, while discussions will cover China's rare earth mineral exports, though the U.S. is unlikely to relax export controls due to national security concerns. Trump emphasized U.S. leadership in AI, announcing plans for an "AI Force" and a new AI czar, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are separately meeting China's Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York.