AI, trade, Iran and Taiwan top agenda at Trump-Xi summit

President Trump welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the White House for Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade, with talks covering trade, technology, Taiwan and Iran. The two leaders held two meetings and delivered public remarks, and Trump and the first lady are set to host a state dinner Thursday. Press access had been in question, but CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters were let back into the briefings after their outlets pursued the matter in federal court, according to PBS NewsHour.

On trade, Washington and Beijing agreed to extend a truce: the U.S. will hold off on new tariffs, and China will keep allowing exports of rare earth magnets used in products from cell phones to F-35s, over which Beijing holds a near-monopoly. Officials are also weighing narrow tariff cuts on items such as fireworks. Export controls on semiconductors remain unchanged, but the two countries are launching an AI dialogue, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposing a hotline for reporting AI-related security incidents. Xi said the countries share "the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good."

A U.S. official linked Chinese support to Iran with the deaths of Americans in Iranian attacks, and said Washington wants that assistance halted. On Taiwan, a promised second major arms package has stalled; officials say Beijing threatened to cancel the summit over it, but Washington is also wary that new arms sales could prompt China to arm Iran further. Both leaders spoke of pursuing "constructive strategic stability."

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →