Trump-Xi Summit: Will It Deliver?

Chinese flags and national emblem displayed on a government building against a blue sky

President Trump secures a vital trade truce extension with China, delivering real wins for American farmers just ahead of critical midterms.

Story Highlights

Trump and Xi set to meet in Beijing early April 2026 to extend the Busan trade truce by up to one year, including tariff rollbacks and soybean purchases.
China resumes buying U.S. soybeans, providing economic relief to farmers battered by past globalist policies and inflation.
No U.S. CEO delegation invited, signaling Trump’s caution against over-reliance on Chinese manufacturing and offshoring jobs.
Truce holds fragile stability after 2025 escalations, positioning Trump for midterm victories without compromising America First principles.

Beijing Summit Plans Emerge

South China Morning Post reports reveal U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing in early April 2026. The summit targets extension of the one-year trade truce agreed at the October 2025 APEC summit in Busan, South Korea. Plans include potential tariff rollbacks and fresh Chinese commitments to purchase U.S. goods like soybeans. Trump arrives possibly March 31 for a three-day visit, adjusted around China’s Qingming Festival on April 5. This pragmatic step counters years of unbalanced trade that fueled inflation and hurt American workers.

Busan Truce Background and Recent Call

The Busan agreement in October 2025 paused tit-for-tat tariffs after 2025 escalations, including U.S. levies on steel and autos plus Chinese boycotts of U.S. agriculture. Trump reinstated tariffs upon his January 2025 return to the White House to cut reliance on Chinese manufacturing. A recent Trump-Xi phone call in early February 2026 covered trade, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Iran. Trump called it “long and thorough,” while Xi pushed peaceful resolutions. Trump highlighted soybean buys post-call, aiding farmers devastated by prior administrations’ fiscal mismanagement.

Stakeholder Motivations and Power Plays

Trump pursues diplomatic wins like soybean deals to bolster his image ahead of November 2026 midterms, prioritizing domestic politics and inflation relief. Xi seeks steady ties amid China’s growth slowdown, leveraging commodity purchases and rare earths as tools. U.S. negotiators exclude CEO delegations, avoiding signals that encourage offshoring. Advisors like Scott Bessent tip upcoming trade talks to prep the summit. This dynamic reflects U.S. leverage through tariffs against China’s purchase power, rejecting globalist interdependence that eroded American jobs.

U.S. soybean farmers stand to gain most from resumed exports, stabilizing billions in trade. Chinese firms dodge tariff hikes, while American consumers benefit from eased supply chain pressures. No full reset occurs; focus remains on short-term stability without ceding ground on tech or security.

Short-Term Wins and Long-Term Caution

Tariff pauses reduce market volatility and boost U.S. farm exports pre-midterms. This eases inflation from supply disruptions, a direct rebuke to Biden-era overspending. Long-term, core disputes on technology access and security persist unresolved. Experts view the summit as midterm-focused commodities win, not structural fix. Brookings notes pathways post-Busan, while analysts caution on informal nature and political timelines. Trump delivers bankable outcomes for patriots tired of weak deals that prioritized foreign interests over American families.