Overview
- Trump departed Tuesday for a May 13–15 state visit to Beijing, marking the first trip to China by a sitting U.S. president since 2017.
- The administration says he will urge Xi to use China’s leverage with Iran, following Monday’s new U.S. sanctions on China-linked actors tied to Iranian oil sales that Beijing denounced.
- Trade is set to dominate as both sides discuss extending their October tariff truce and weigh a new bilateral Commerce Committee, with negotiators He Lifeng and Scott Bessent meeting in Seoul ahead of the summit.
- A 17‑CEO U.S. delegation, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, signals a push for contracts in aircraft, energy and agriculture during the visit.
- Security flashpoints will feature, with Trump pledging to raise U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and China reiterating its opposition, while the Hormuz shipping squeeze raises China’s oil costs and adds urgency to talks.