Trump heads to China this week to meet Xi as Iran war and trade disputes loom over summit – US politics live | Trump administration
A diplomatic minefield ahead of Trump’s visit with Xi Jinping to China
Viviane Ho
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of American politics.
Donald Trump is due to travel to China this week to meet Xi Jinpingthe Chinese leader. This will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump’s in 2017. But given everything that has happened so far in Trump’s second term – a trade war and then a real war with Iran which has led to skyrocketing oil and gas prices around the world – the mood of this visit will likely be very different.
While the United States and China agreed to a temporary truce in October in the trade war started by Trump last year, China’s response to tariffs that reached as high as 145% at one point – restricting the export of rare earths, a move that brought some factories in the United States to a grinding halt – was likely an unwelcome reality check for Trump; one that revealed the true economic power of China.
Then there is the question of China’s influence with Iran, as the largest buyer of Iranian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to “step up diplomacy” – essentially asking Beijing for help in a war started by Washington – while at the same time Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Trump planned to tackle China’s ongoing energy purchases from Iran.
Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on several China-based companies, alleging that they provided “satellite imagery to enable Iranian military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East” and enabled “the Iranian military’s efforts to secure weapons, as well as raw materials for use in Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.”
On Monday, China came out against the sanctions, calling them illegal and unilateral, Reuters reported.
“We have always asked Chinese companies to conduct their business in accordance with laws and regulations, and we will firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing.
“The absolute priority is to prevent by all means a resumption of fighting, rather than using war to maliciously associate and defame other countries.
More to come.
Key events
The US Senate is expected to confirm Kevin Warsh as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve
Lauren Aratani
The US Senate should confirm Kevin Warsh this week as chairman of the Federal Reserve, Donald Trump continues its campaign to influence the world’s most important central bank.
The vote is expected to be divided along party lines. Democrats criticize Warsh for being Trump’s “sock puppet” at a time when the president crossed the usual boundaries between the White House and the nonpartisan Fed.
A reminder that my colleagues cover the latest developments from the Middle East. This includes Trump’s recent rejection of Iran’s latest peace proposal, which he called “completely unacceptable.” – raising the possibility of a new conflict.
Tehran has warned it will not hesitate to retaliate against any new US strikes or allow more foreign warships into the country. Strait of Hormuz.
Before going to China tomorrow, Donald Trump is in Washington today.
We expect to hear from the president on several occasions. First at a maternal health event in the Oval Office at 10:30 a.m. ET. Later, at 4 p.m. ET, he will host the 2026 college football national champions Indiana University at the White House.
Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing this week knowing that Xi holds all the cards
Simon Tisdal
Like an out of control wrecking ball, swinging wildly back and forth, Donald Trump breaks the international order without thinking too much about the consequences. Lacking coherent strategies, workable plans, or coherent goals, it moves erratically from one fragile region, tense war zone, and complex geopolitical situation to another, leaving misery, confusion, and rubble in its wake. Typically, he claims a false victory, demands that others repair the damage and foot the bill, then looks for something new to break.
The president will bulldoze another international minefield – the tense conflict between China and Taiwan – this week when he travels to Beijing for a two-day summit with the president. Xi Jinping. After a series of humiliating political implosions on Ukraine, Gaza, NATO, Greenland and now Iran and Lebanon, a needy Trump craves a diplomatic success to display at home. But his hopes of reaching winning trade deals are overshadowed by his latest war of choice. He needs Xi’s promise not to arm Iran if widespread fighting resumes — and Xi’s help to stay the course. Strait of Hormuz opened within the framework of a mentioned framework peace agreement.
Trump’s weak position ahead of the summit fuels speculation that reduced support for Taiwan Perhaps this is the price to pay for Xi playing nice.
A diplomatic minefield ahead of Trump’s visit with Xi Jinping to China
Viviane Ho
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of American politics.
Donald Trump is due to travel to China this week to meet Xi Jinpingthe Chinese leader. This will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump’s in 2017. But given everything that has happened so far in Trump’s second term – a trade war and then a real war with Iran which has led to skyrocketing oil and gas prices around the world – the mood of this visit will likely be very different.
While the United States and China agreed to a temporary truce in October in the trade war started by Trump last year, China’s response to tariffs that reached as high as 145% at one point – restricting the export of rare earths, a move that brought some factories in the United States to a grinding halt – was likely an unwelcome reality check for Trump; one that revealed the true economic power of China.
Then there is the question of China’s influence with Iran, as the largest buyer of Iranian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to “step up diplomacy” – essentially asking Beijing for help in a war started by Washington – while at the same time Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Trump planned to tackle China’s ongoing energy purchases from Iran.
Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on several China-based companies, alleging that they provided “satellite imagery to enable Iranian military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East” and enabled “the Iranian military’s efforts to secure weapons, as well as raw materials for use in Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.”
On Monday, China came out against the sanctions, calling them illegal and unilateral, Reuters reported.
“We have always asked Chinese companies to conduct their business in accordance with laws and regulations, and we will firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing.
“The absolute priority is to prevent by all means a resumption of fighting, rather than using war to maliciously associate and defame other countries.
More to come.
