Trump-Xi Summit: What's at Stake for Europe?

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington Wednesday for a three-day summit with President Donald Trump, with European leaders closely monitoring decisions that could directly impact their economic interests. The third Trump-Xi meeting in under a year will address trade, artificial intelligence, and rare earths, following an October 2025 trade truce and a May meeting in Beijing. The EU, facing a daily €1 billion trade deficit with China, has set an October deadline for progress in negotiations. The truce expires November 10, and Washington may announce tariff reductions covering $30 billion in goods. Experts note the US holds stronger negotiating power on rare earths, while a proposed AI "hotline" between the two powers leaves Europe largely sidelined.