Trump will aim to achieve other deals around trade and tariffs – like lowering Chinese tariffs on American products, increasing imports of Chinese rare earth minerals, and increasing exports of US agricultural products, according to David Firestein of the Bush China Foundation.
But China appears to have reneged on promises to buy more American agricultural products and to sell more rare earth minerals to the US.
Firestein expects Xi to encourage Trump to further stall – or kill – a congressionally approved $14bn (£10.5bn)-arms sale to Taiwan and deepen US-China trade integration.
These are the same US-China issues for the ages, he said, but, this time, “there seems to be a greater degree of, let’s say, stability within the relationship, or less volatility relative to where we were last year in 2025”.
Xi’s visit comes at a time when American attitudes towards China appear to be warming.
A recent poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs indicated that 41% of Americans see China’s territorial ambitions as a threat to the US. That number is down from 52% in 2022.
More than half of Americans – 57% – believe the US should cooperate and engage with Beijing. Notably, that statistic cuts across the US political spectrum.
Of Republicans who do not identify as Maga, 57% favour cooperation, as do most Democrats, both moderate and liberal.
However most of Trump’s loyal base – 63% – favour limiting US relations with China, putting them at odds with his warm welcome of Xi.
Aside from the arrival ceremonies at the White House, Melania Trump has also planned a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to show her Chinese counterpart the cultural connections between the two countries.
The landmark visit will end on a historical note at the National Archives building where the couples will view important records including those of “significance to the American and Chinese relationship,” the White House has said.
With additional reporting from Brandon Drenon
