WASHINGTON/BEIJING: President Donald Trump’s recent trip to Beijing resulted in some modest achievements, but it also showcased a significant advantage for China. After the turmoil of last year’s trade war, the two nations seem to have returned to their familiar economic and strategic rivalry.
The two-day discussions between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping made it clear that even after last year’s trade tensions and a temporary calming of relations, the ongoing contest between the U.S. and China persists into Trump’s second term.
Trade Truce
For the U.S., the ongoing issues in the partnership—like China’s trade practices and its growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific—remain unresolved. However, for Xi, the situation offers a chance for some stability as he presented a new approach called “constructive strategic stability” to guide the countries’ relations.
According to Scott Kennedy, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, China has benefitted from a shift in the U.S.’s aggressive trade policies since early 2025. He highlighted how things have improved from last year, when tariffs were much higher and the U.S. aimed for substantial changes from China.
Trump’s summit included notable U.S. business leaders like Tesla’s Elon Musk and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, but their participation didn’t yield significant results besides a grand dinner. The talks also did not secure any commitment from China regarding the ongoing Iran situation, which has impacted global markets and Trump’s popularity.
“While the summit gave an impression of stability, it ultimately maintained the stalemate,” noted Craig Singleton from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He described the outcomes as modest and manageable, the best that could be expected in the current climate.
A White House official remarked that Trump worked to use his good relationship with Xi to deliver benefits for Americans, mentioning the sale of Boeing aircraft and agreements aimed at boosting American exports. In contrast, a representative from the Chinese embassy in D.C. characterized the discussions as open and constructive, indicating they aimed to find ways for two major nations to coexist.
Previously, Trump had high hopes that tariffs would force China into making concessions, but analysts suggest he overestimated their impact. China responded with its own tariffs and threatened to cut off essential mineral supplies, leading to a tense standoff. The U.S. administration has shown reluctance to take further significant financial actions against China, such as sanctions on major banks.
No major long-standing U.S. demands were brought up during the summit, signaling a shift in strategy. It seems that China is satisfied with the current fragile truce as it deals with a struggling domestic economy while focusing on strengthening its technology sector for future competition with the U.S.
Officials from the Trump administration had previously stated that they were not looking for major developments ahead of the meeting, indicating a lack of urgency regarding the upcoming expiration of their trade truce.
Underwhelming Outcomes
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that China desired a longer extension of the truce than the Trump team was prepared to offer, as well as assurances regarding pending U.S. investigations on tariffs that were recently dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Overall, the summit did not produce substantial results, contrasting sharply with Trump’s 2017 trip, during which commitments and agreements worth $250 billion were signed. This week saw no breakthrough in selling Nvidia’s advanced AI chips to China, which some lawmakers had cautioned against.
Trump suggested that Boeing had secured an agreement for 200 jets from China, significantly lower than previous expectations of 500 and the 300 deal from 2017. The U.S. administration also announced a new Board of Trade aimed at lowering tariffs on non-sensitive goods, although details were lacking.
Wendy Cutler, a former deputy U.S. Trade Representative, called the economic outcomes “way below expectations.” Conversely, Cui Shoujun, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University, viewed the summit as a positive step toward acknowledging the competitive nature of U.S.-China relations in the long run.
In summary, while the recent meetings showcased some attempts at collaboration, they ultimately reaffirmed the existing tensions and challenges between the two nations.
