Business Delegation and Summit Preparations
Currently, Chinese and US officials are discussing whether business leaders will join President Xi Jinping’s delegation to the United States next month. Specifically, the talks come as Xi prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on September 24. Furthermore, this initiative follows Trump’s May visit to Beijing with top American CEOs. In recent diplomatic meetings, both sides called for implementing leadership consensus to keep bilateral ties stable and sustainable. Consequently, four people with knowledge of the discussions confirm that including Chinese executives is being negotiated around principles of reciprocity.
Extending the Busan Trade Truce
Meanwhile, sources indicate that extending the one-year trade agreement reached in Busan last October is now almost certain. Under that original agreement, both nations agreed to reduce certain tariffs, pause rare earth export controls, and secure soybean purchases. However, the two governments currently disagree over the duration of the extension. For instance, Beijing prefers an extension running through the end of Trump’s presidency to lock in stability. Conversely, Washington is seeking a single-year extension to maintain leverage. Therefore, the trade agreement is currently set to be extended for one additional year.
Managing Disputes and Strategic Mechanisms
Additionally, negotiators are actively working to finalize the Board of Trade agreement. This mechanism focuses on identifying non-sensitive products eligible for tariff-reduced trade capped at $30 billion per side. Nevertheless, low-level tit-for-tat trade measures continue across various sectors. For example, the US recently banned imports of foreign-made robotic devices and added Chinese firms to restricted entity lists. In response, Beijing tightened export controls on drones and sanctioned several American companies. Ultimately, both administrations are actively attempting to insulate the upcoming summit from these disputes to ensure stable bilateral cooperation.
Reference
Seth, N., & Seth, N. (2026d, agosto 27). Exclusive | Chinese executives may join Xi’s US trip, as trade truce extension ‘almost certain’. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365440/chinese-executives-may-join-xis-us-trip-trade-truce-extension-almost-certain?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article