Signal Trump Welcomes Xi to Washington as US-China Trade Truce Extended

Summary

President Trump personally greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on September 23, 2026, the first time in 11 years a US president has welcomed a foreign leader there. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two countries had agreed to extend their trade truce, which was due to expire in November, through January 10, 2027. The three-day visit is Xi's first trip to the United States in nearly three years. The agenda covers artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals, access to the US auto market and the extension of the Busan trade truce. Few major breakthroughs were expected from the summit. Even so, the truce extension gives both sides a concrete outcome at a time of wider friction over Taiwan and Iran.