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Trump heads to China this week to meet Xi as Iran war and trade disputes loom over summit – US politics live
TL;DR
Donald Trump is set to visit China this week for talks with Xi Jinping, marking the first presidential visit in nearly a decade. The summit comes amid ongoing trade disputes and the US-Iran war, with significant implications for global oil prices and diplomacy.
Key points
- Trump's visit is the first by a US president to China in nearly a decade
- The summit will address trade disputes and the US-Iran war
- China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, complicating US-China relations
- Recent US sanctions target Chinese companies linked to Iran's military
- The mood of the visit is expected to be different due to current geopolitical tensions
Mentioned in this story
Donald TrumpXi JinpingUS TreasuryIranChina
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics.
Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China this week to meet with Xi Jinping, China’s leader. It will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump in 2017. But given all that has happened so far in Trump’s second term – a trade war and then an actual war with Iran that has led to oil and gas prices skyrocketing worldwide – the mood of this visit is likely to be quite different.
While the US and China had agreed to a temporary truce in October in the trade war Trump unleashed last year, China’s response to tariffs that reached as high as 145% at one point – restricting the export of rare earths, a move that brought some factories in the US to a screeching halt – was likely an unwelcomed reality check for Trump; one that revealed China’s true economic might.
Then there’s the issue of of China’s influence with Iran, as the biggest biggest buyer of Iranian oil. The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has called on China to “step up with some diplomacy” – essentially asking for Beijing’s help in a war that Washington started – while ast the same time trade representative Jamieson Greer said Trump planned to address China’s ongoing energy purchases from Iran.
Last week, the US imposed sanctions on several China-based companies, alleging that they provided “satellite imagery to enable Iran’s military strikes against US forces in the Middle East” and enabled “efforts by Iran’s military to secure weapons, as well as raw materials with applications in Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs”.
On Monday, China spoke out against these sanctions, describing them as illegal and unilateral, Reuters reported.
“We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws and regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing.
“The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate and smear other countries.”
More to come.
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Q&A
What are the main topics Trump will discuss with Xi Jinping during his visit to China?
Trump is expected to address the trade war, China's energy purchases from Iran, and seek China's assistance in diplomatic efforts regarding Iran.
Why is Trump's visit to China significant after nearly a decade?
This visit is significant as it reflects the changing dynamics in US-China relations amidst ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning Iran.
What impact could the US-Iran war have on global oil prices during Trump's visit?
The US-Iran war has already led to skyrocketing oil and gas prices worldwide, and discussions during Trump's visit may further influence market stability and diplomatic relations.
