US and China extend trade truce as Xi visits Washington for first time in three years

The United States and China agreed to extend their 11-month trade truce as President Donald Trump welcomed President Xi Jinping to Washington on Wednesday for his first visit in nearly three years. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the extension, which pushes the deadline to January 10. The three-day visit, which began with a military ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, aims to test relations amid tensions over trade, technology, Taiwan, and Iran. Talks on Thursday may yield sector-specific tariff reductions, cooperation on drug trafficking, and expanded military dialogue, though deep differences remain on export controls and other issues. The trip includes a state dinner with tech leaders like Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang, plus a White House military ceremony and a visit to the National Archives. Analysts note both leaders face domestic pressures, with Trump confronting falling approval ratings and Xi managing economic challenges at home.