Trump-Xi Beijing Summit Set for May 14-15 with Iran War, Rare Earths, and Trade on the Agenda
Primary region US
Tags Diplomacy · Trade · Energy
Regions US · China
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15 for their first face-to-face talks in over six months, as both leaders attempt to stabilize ties strained by trade disputes, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and disagreements over Taiwan and AI. The Iran war and Strait of Hormuz energy crisis are expected to dominate the meeting, potentially overshadowing other agenda items including rare earth export controls, tariff extensions, and Taiwan policy. China has built the world's largest crude oil stockpiles — averaging around 360 million barrels — giving Beijing additional energy leverage. U.S. officials said the two sides may announce a Board of Trade and Board of Investment, along with Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft, American agriculture, and energy. The October 2025 trade truce, which paused triple-digit tariffs and rare earth export curbs, may be extended. Trump arrives in Beijing on Wednesday May 13, with talks Thursday and Friday.
Strategic interpretation
The Iran war has fundamentally altered the bargaining dynamics ahead of the summit: China's massive crude stockpiles and continued Iranian oil imports via teapot refineries reduce Beijing's urgency to concede on trade, while Trump's domestic pressure from gas prices above $4.50 per gallon increases his need for a visible win. China may calculate that Trump needs a deal more than Beijing does, given the proximity to midterm elections. The rare earths leverage that China demonstrated in October 2025 remains a credible threat if Washington escalates tech curbs.