Fulfilling earlier US-China agreements is a work in progress as Trump and Xi meet again

Beijing (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are meeting in Washington to assess progress made in implementing the trade commitments made during their May meeting in Beijing. Although modest advancements are expected, experts believe significant breakthroughs are unlikely. The two nations initially agreed on a framework of "constructive strategic stability," aiming to prevent disagreements from escalating into larger conflicts.

One potential outcome of this week’s meeting is the launch of a Board of Trade, alongside reciprocal tariff reductions on $30 billion worth of goods exchanged between the two countries. Both measures were agreed upon in May, but analysts suggest that achieving the $30 billion target may be challenging. Discussions are underway regarding about 10 product categories, with disagreements over the scope of the initiative.

For American farmers, China has pledged to reduce tariffs on agricultural exports, potentially benefiting sectors like soybeans and beef. Meanwhile, China has registered American beef plants, awaiting technical clearance for shipments to reach the U.S. ports. The White House hopes that Trump's visit before the November midterm elections will demonstrate progress in trade relations, benefiting voters.

China's major commercial aviation market, China, has agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, but no orders have materialized yet. Discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation have recently gained momentum, yet both countries view each other as competitors, hindering progress in this area. Setting up a crisis communications channel and a Board of Investment are smaller steps aimed at improving relations, but trust remains low between the two nations.