Donald Trump and Xi Jinping opened high-stakes trade talks in Beijing on May 14, 2026. The leaders gathered at the Great Hall of the People for a two-day summit that placed tariffs, chip exports, and investment at the center of discussions. Trump stressed that economic matters would drive the agenda. "More than anything else will be trade," Trump said.
Negotiators aimed to extend an October trade truce and secure new Chinese orders for US soybeans, beef, and Boeing aircraft. Tariffs that reached 145 percent remained a core point of friction. The discussions focused on practical steps to reduce barriers and promote balanced commerce between the two economies over the coming months.
Xi Jinping addressed the Taiwan issue directly. "Taiwan, if handled poorly, could lead to a clash with the United States," the Chinese President told Trump. US business leaders joined segments of the talks. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang participated alongside other executives to discuss supply chains and market access. Their input highlighted the importance of stable technology flows and manufacturing partnerships.
Additional topics included rare earth exports and investment rules, according to live coverage from Reuters. AP News reported that both sides explored ways to stabilize purchases of American agricultural goods and commercial aircraft. The New York Times noted Xi's explicit warning on Taiwan during the Beijing sessions. The exchange occurred as negotiators weighed broader security concerns tied to economic policy.
Trump's arrival set expectations for concrete outcomes on chip restrictions and tariff relief. Chinese officials signaled openness to larger orders of US products if progress occurs on export controls. The summit continues through May 15 with further meetings scheduled on investment frameworks and technology transfers. Both delegations expressed cautious optimism about reaching agreements that could benefit global markets and reduce uncertainty in key sectors.
