Factbox-Key issues for this week’s Trump-Xi summit in Washington

This week, US President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their second summit in Washington, aiming for stability amidst pressures like trade, Taiwan, Iran, and global concerns about artificial intelligence. Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for the first time in over a decade. Since their May meeting, Xi has overseen a surge in China's global trade, while Trump, facing low approval ratings and the Iran war, seeks economic wins.

The White House expects to extend a tariff truce, set to expire on November 10, until January 10. They also plan to discuss agriculture, non-tariff barriers, and a potential $30 billion tariff reduction involving China cutting duties on U.S. agricultural imports. Trump hopes to announce trade wins before November's midterm elections, including securing Boeing aircraft and agricultural product purchases.

China has reportedly made progress on its $17 billion annual commitment to buy U.S. agricultural products, but no further orders were indicated. The summit will also address China's pressure on the U.S. to delay a rule barring Chinese firms from advanced technology and Beijing's demands for eased export controls on rare earths and critical minerals.

The U.S. has taken a less combative stance than usual due to China's growing power, as rare earths control is crucial for high-tech applications. China exports up to 70% of global rare-earth mining, 85% of refining capacity, and 90% of rare-earth metal alloy and magnet production. While no threats of tariffs or technology bans were issued, U.S. allies worry Trump might soften support for Taiwan.

The U.S. opposes Taiwan's independence, but Beijing considers the island as part of its territory. The White House reiterated its commitment to defending Taiwan, and China is seeking assurances that the U.S. will not sell arms to Taiwan. China also hopes to persuade the U.S. to publicly state that it does not support Taiwan's independence, which could provoke opposition in Congress.

The U.S. sees Xi as a potential mediator in Iran's affairs due to Beijing's close ties with Tehran, but Xi has shown little interest in curbing Iran's oil exports. Treasury Secretary Bessent discussed China's financial ties to Tehran during the summit. Despite U.S. frustration with China, Bessent did not impose penalties on Chinese banks like last month's economic sanctions against Iran. China is reportedly selling billions of dollars worth of goods to Iran despite U.S. concerns.