What Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping has—and hasn’t—achieved

Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit, but the meeting achieved little in terms of progress on significant issues. The pageantry surrounding Xi's arrival in Washington, D.C. was excessive, reflecting Trump's desire to maintain stable ties with Xi, whom he described as "strong, vibrant and fit." A state dinner was held at the White House, followed by a private tea and a tour of the National Archives the next day.

The main accomplishment of the summit was an extension of the economic truce between America and China, which lasted until the end of Trump's tenure. The only other new agreement was for China to provide two giant pandas to a zoo in Atlanta. Both sides grumbled about each other's compliance with the trade truce, which included commitments to stop the flow of chemicals used to make fentanyl and buy more American soybeans.

American officials expressed concerns about China's adherence to the trade truce and discussed a potential "bigger" deal proposed by China. Artificial intelligence was a topic of discussion, but Trump and Xi were content to leave the status quo unchanged. Trump downplayed concerns about Chinese security and defense activities, stating that both countries spy on each other. Xi urged America to oppose Taiwan's independence.

Trump's approach to China during his second term has shifted, adopting softer positions on issues such as semiconductor exports and American commitments to Taiwan. A recent poll revealed that a majority of Americans prefer friendly cooperation and engagement with China over containing its power. The summit's most significant aspect might be the frequency of Trump and Xi's meetings, rather than the substance of their agreements.