Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Trump to Welcome Xi for High-Stakes Tariff and AI Talks
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the United States next week.
President Donald Trump plans to meet him at a military airport, which is unusual because foreign leaders usually meet Trump at the White House.
The two presidents will hold important talks about trade, computer intelligence and minerals used in many products.
Tariffs are extra charges placed on goods traded between countries.
The United States may lower some tariffs on a small number of goods.
American officials do not expect the United States to broadly loosen its controls on rare-earth exports.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, will attend a state dinner hosted by Trump and Melania Trump.
The visit will also include a military review, private tea and a tour of the National Archives.
Economic officials from both countries will separately meet in New York to discuss trade and economic issues.
Donald Trump is scheduled to welcome Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday for Xi’s first U.S. state visit in more than a decade.
Trump and Xi will hold White House talks Thursday covering tariffs, artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals and broader economic issues.
The visit includes a military review, a White House state dinner, a private tea and a tour of the National Archives.
U.S. officials said limited tariff reductions on some nonstrategic goods may be possible, but broader rare-earth export-control changes are unlikely.
Executives including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook are scheduled to attend the state dinner.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with Melania Trump, Peng Liyuan and senior economic officials from both countries.
- What
- Xi is scheduled to make a state visit to the United States for diplomatic, trade and economic discussions with Trump.
- When
- Xi is scheduled to arrive Wednesday; the main White House events are planned for Thursday, followed by a private tea and National Archives tour on Friday.
- Where
- Joint Base Andrews, the White House, New York and the National Archives in Washington.
- Why
- The visit is intended to address tariffs, trade, rare-earth mineral supplies, artificial intelligence and other economic issues.
Potential Economic Concessions
Limits on Concessions
Tariffs
Potential Economic Concessions
Washington and Beijing may reduce tariffs on a narrow group of nonstrategic goods if both sides benefit.
Limits on Concessions
U.S. officials described any tariff reduction as limited and did not indicate a broader trade agreement.
Rare-earth minerals
Potential Economic Concessions
The talks could address China maintaining an acceptable flow of rare-earth minerals into global markets.
Limits on Concessions
U.S. officials said they did not expect Washington to reduce export controls in exchange for greater mineral supplies.
- Expected arrival
- Xi Jinping is scheduled to land at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, where Trump plans to welcome him.
- White House program
- Thursday’s events include an arrival ceremony, a troop review, closed-door talks and a state dinner.
- Private meeting
- Xi and Peng Liyuan are scheduled to return Friday for private tea with the Trumps and a National Archives tour.
- Potential tariff changes
- U.S. officials said limited reductions on some nonstrategic goods may be possible.
- Rare-earth minerals
- The United States is not expected to broadly ease export controls, while China’s mineral supplies will be discussed.
- Economic consultations
- Treasury Secretary Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to participate in economic and trade discussions in New York.
- State dinner guests
- The announced guests include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Jane Fraser and Tim Cook.
