Xi and Trump to hold White House talks on trade, Taiwan, Iran

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Washington from September 23 to 25 for talks with Donald Trump, with trade, tariffs, rare earths, AI safety, Taiwan, Iran, energy security, and fentanyl controls dominating the agenda. The summit comes weeks before the US-China trade truce expires on November 10. The state visit includes a formal arrival ceremony, expanded bilateral meetings, and a state dinner with top American tech CEOs. Key economic goals include extending the tariff truce, reducing tariffs on non-strategic goods, and securing agricultural purchase guarantees, while rare earth export controls and AI governance remain contentious issues. The Iran conflict adds urgency, as China relies on Persian Gulf oil, and Washington seeks Beijing's leverage over Tehran. Taiwan and South China Sea tensions persist, with experts viewing the meeting as a tactical pause rather than lasting detente, though both sides aim to prevent direct confrontation.