Xi Jinping visits White House as US and China agree tariff cuts on $30 billion in goods

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Washington in late September, holding talks with US President Donald Trump on trade, Taiwan, Iran and artificial intelligence. Days after the visit ended, the two governments announced reciprocal tariff reductions on $30 billion worth of each other's goods.

The visit

Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews on September 23 for a state visit of less than 48 hours, his first trip to Washington in a decade, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. It was the latest in a series of meetings between the two leaders: they met in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, and Trump travelled to Beijing in May 2026.

Trump hosted a state dinner for Xi in the East Room of the White House, the Associated Press reported, with a guest list that included technology executives such as Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai.

In his toast, Trump said: "President Xi and I both understand we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we've never gotten along better." Xi, according to the AP, said: "President Trump has pledged to make America great again" and "China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation."

Taiwan and other issues

According to China's official readout, reported by ABC News (Australia), Xi told Trump to follow the "correct stance of opposing Taiwan independence", language that ABC noted differs subtly from the US position of not supporting independence. ABC reported that no major agreements on Iran, AI or other large disputes were announced during the visit itself. The two leaders agreed to support each other's hosting of the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen and the G20 summit in Miami later this year.

China also said it would send two giant pandas, Fu Shuang and Ping Ping, to Zoo Atlanta. Protesters outside the White House voiced support for Taiwan and raised concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs, ABC reported.

The tariff deal

On September 26, Fox News reported that the two countries had agreed to lower tariffs on $30 billion in what it called non-sensitive goods, through a US-China Board of Trade established during Xi's visit. US exports set to receive favourable treatment in China include agricultural products, seafood, wood products, cosmetics and medical devices, while Chinese-made small appliances, toys, holiday decorations and children's car seats will receive preferential treatment in the US.

On September 28, Al Jazeera reported that the two sides had published lists identifying 77 Chinese goods and more than 1,600 US products for tariff cuts. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said: "The Trump Administration will continue to pursue fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with China by ensuring compliance with commitments." China's Ministry of Commerce said the arrangement would "help stabilize China-US trade, create better conditions for Chinese exports."

Not all observers saw a large effect. Trade analyst Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation told Al Jazeera that "both sides have largely listed goods that do not move the needle on overall trade flows". According to Al Jazeera, trade between the two countries fell 25 percent in 2025 to $495 billion.

Why it matters

Relations between the world's two largest economies affect trade, security and diplomacy far beyond their borders. The visit produced a limited trade arrangement and warm public words, but analysts quoted by the Council on Foreign Relations and Al Jazeera said core disputes, including Taiwan and broader trade flows, remain unresolved. The leaders are expected to meet again at APEC and the G20 later in the year.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.