In the nation’s capital, President Trump has expressed his openness to meeting with Xi Jinping, China’s top official. Over in Beijing, there’s a consensus among Chinese officials and analysts that any significant overhaul of relations between the two countries hinges on a meeting of these leaders, especially given Trump’s assertive tactics in trade and international relations.
However, organizing such a meeting is proving to be a sluggish and challenging task. Senator Steve Daines from Montana, representing Trump on an unofficial visit to Beijing this month, highlighted that one of his primary objectives was to set the stage for a summit between the presidents. After discussions with He Lifeng, China’s vice premier for economic affairs, Daines mentioned in an interview his anticipation of a possible summit by year’s end—a timeline that seems slower than what many in Washington might have anticipated.
Chinese officials and advisors have shared in recent conversations that they were caught off-guard by Trump’s swift moves on tariffs and issues like Greenland and Ukraine. Alarmed, in particular, by Trump’s public handling of foreign leaders, including Ukraine’s President Zelensky, they’re understandably cautious about rushing into summit planning.
The strain between Beijing and Washington might escalate soon, especially with the next wave of Trump’s tariffs looming, threatening to further restrict commerce.
On the Chinese front, there’s a hesitance to schedule any high-level meetings without hammering out the finer details in advance, including a durable agreement that would last the remainder of Trump’s tenure. Up to now, the Trump administration hasn’t clearly articulated what constitutes an acceptable agreement.
Wu Xinbo, who leads the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, expressed that the Chinese believe the Trump administration is still grappling with how to effectively manage its relationship with China. Wu, part of an unofficial group of retired Chinese officials and academics who met with American counterparts, stressed that China is waiting for a more constructive sign from the U.S.
Other Chinese experts familiar with the bilateral discussions have mentioned the potential for the leaders to meet in New York around the U.N. General Assembly in September. However, it remains uncertain if enough progress can be made by then, according to sources who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Responding to queries about the timing of a possible summit, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered no new information. Meanwhile, in a recent video call, He conveyed concerns to Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, about Trump’s recent rounds of 10 percent tariffs. In retaliation to the initial tariffs, China had already levied additional duties on U.S. fossil fuels and agricultural goods.
Senator Daines’s visit marked only the second by a member of Congress to China in over five years, and notably, no other senators joined him—a rare occurrence for such delegations.
Despite Daines’s diplomatic efforts, China unexpectedly ceased most American beef imports on March 16, impacting a significant market worth $1 billion annually, much of which originated from Montana. Without any immediate concessions from Beijing in response to Daines’s visit, it’s clear the path to improved relations remains complex.
Additionally, despite having granted five-year licenses to numerous American slaughterhouses back in March 2020, allowing them to export beef to China following years of trade-related disruptions, these licenses recently weren’t renewed. This has effectively shut the Chinese market, causing exports to plunge dramatically almost overnight. The expiration of these licenses represents a considerable setback for American ranchers, underscored by Daines’s own pressing discussions with Vice Premier He.
Yet, when queried, the Chinese foreign ministry claimed unawareness of any controversy surrounding these licenses, leaving American stakeholders in a position of uncertainty and urging action for resolution.
