WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2 for high-level talks with President Xi Jinping, a trip aimed at reinforcing the trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies. The announcement came shortly before the US Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, including some targeting Chinese goods.
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The Beijing meeting is expected to focus on extending the trade truce that temporarily halted tariff escalation. Under the truce, China agreed to curb illicit fentanyl exports and pause restrictions on critical minerals. However, the Supreme Court ruling raises questions about the stability of US-China trade ties, as Trump had relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose 20% tariffs on certain Chinese exports, which the court found exceeded his authority. Tariffs under Section 301 and Section 232 remain in place.
Trump will go to China on
US President Donald Trump will visit China on March 31. He will stay there until April 2. pic.twitter.com/6JioR3xadZ— Jarl Finland (@jalle51) February 21, 2026
Trump indicated he would replace the struck-down duties with a new 10% global tariff effective for 150 days, signaling continued pressure on trading partners. Analysts say the tariff defeat weakens the US negotiating position in Beijing and may impact Chinese commitments, including large-scale purchases of US soybeans—a key concern for struggling American farmers.
This trip will mark the first in-person talks between the leaders since their October 2025 meeting in South Korea, which largely maintained the trade truce but left sensitive issues, including Taiwan, unresolved. Washington maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and approved an $11.1 billion arms sale in December, a move that Beijing strongly opposes.
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Experts say the Supreme Court decision could alter trade dynamics beyond China, as effective tariffs on other countries may now decline, increasing pressure on Beijing while complicating Trump’s global trade strategy. The visit is widely anticipated to be a high-profile event, with Trump promising an elaborate display of US-Chinese cooperation, even amid ongoing tensions in the bilateral relationship.