TRUMP, XI STRIKE $30 BILLION TARIFF DEAL AS CHINA AGREES TO BUY U.S. COAL

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a three-day state visit with agreements covering tariffs, American energy exports, fentanyl precursors, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to stabilize a relationship battered by years of trade and geopolitical confrontation.

The White House announced that the United States and China reached consensus on more favorable tariff treatment covering $30 billion of non-sensitive goods flowing in each direction. American exports covered by the agreement include agricultural products, seafood, timber, cosmetics and medical devices, while Chinese imports receiving favorable treatment include toys, small appliances, holiday decorations and children’s car seats. 

The agreement emerged from Xi’s September 23-25 state visit, his first to the United States in more than a decade. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during a visit that included White House meetings, a state dinner and a tour of the National Archives. Reuters characterized the summit as heavy on personal diplomacy while noting that major disagreements between Washington and Beijing remain unresolved. 

Energy was also on the table.

According to the White House, China agreed to import at least 10 million metric tons of American coal in 2027 and another 10 million metric tons in 2028. Trump also pressed Xi to increase Chinese production of refined petroleum products as the administration seeks to stabilize global energy supplies. 

The two governments also formally activated a U.S.-China Board of Trade and Board of Investment established during Trump and Xi’s May summit in Beijing. The trade board will focus in part on agricultural market-access barriers, while the investment board is intended to provide a channel for addressing commercial investment disputes. 

Another major issue was America’s dependence on Chinese-controlled critical-mineral supply chains. Washington and Beijing agreed to continue discussions over shortages involving rare earths and other critical minerals after China imposed export restrictions during the countries’ trade fight. The White House said the goal is returning shipments to what it described as appropriate levels. 

Trump also pressed China on fentanyl. The administration welcomed Beijing’s new export controls on two precursor chemicals and said Chinese authorities arrested 21 citizens in August after receiving information from American law enforcement about alleged precursor manufacturing and distribution. 

The two countries additionally agreed to establish a communication channel dealing with artificial-intelligence incidents and schedule another technology dialogue for November. In one unusual diplomatic wrinkle, Trump and Xi agreed to use the term “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” in their bilateral discussions. 

Not everything was settled. Taiwan, deeper trade disputes and China’s relationship with Iran remain sources of tension, and the summit did not produce the sweeping trade settlement both countries have discussed. The two sides did, however, extend their existing trade truce by two months while negotiations continue. 

For an administration that has spent much of Trump’s second term using tariffs and economic pressure as negotiating weapons, the state visit marked a shift from escalation toward bargaining, without ending the larger U.S.-China rivalry.

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