The White House confirmed on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to China at the end of March for official meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid a Supreme Court decision that has upended many of the tariffs Trump imposed on imports, including those affecting the world’s second-largest economy.
Trump’s trip will take place from March 31 to April 2, marking the first visit to Beijing by a U.S. president since 2017. The visit comes at a time when both leaders have reported improved communication in recent months.
The Supreme Court’s decision struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing presidential overreach. In response to the ruling, Trump announced a 10% global tariff to be enforced for 150 days, while also suggesting a potential rise to 15%.
Those tariffs, including a 20% duty on certain Chinese exports, were originally introduced in response to declared national emergencies tied to trade concerns and illicit fentanyl flows. Other duties, such as those under Section 301 and Section 232, remain unaffected.
This planned visit will be the leaders’ first face-to-face meeting since they agreed to a trade truce in South Korea last October. Issues expected to be raised include China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans and Beijing’s reaction to ongoing U.S. trade measures. Chinese officials have signaled interest in maintaining stable bilateral relations and seek to prevent new escalations.
Other topics that could potentially come up are U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a longstanding point of sensitivity for Beijing. Washington authorized its largest arms sale to Taiwan late last year and is expected to continue that support.
Notably, China has recently increased engagement with Western nations and has seen growth in its electric vehicle exports. The leadership in Beijing has welcomed various Western dignitaries in recent months, signaling an effort to cultivate broader international relationships.
