Trump Heads to Beijing with Tech CEOs in Tow, Pushing for China Market Access

US President Donald Trump has departed for China on what will be the first presidential visit in nearly a decade, travelling with a high-profile delegation of American business leaders and a clear economic agenda: getting China to open its doors wider to US companies.

Among those joining the trip at the last minute was Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose company has been locked in a prolonged struggle to secure regulatory approval to sell its advanced H200 AI chips in the Chinese market. Trump personally invited Huang to board Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Alaska, according to a source close to the matter.

“Open Up” — Trump’s Opening Ask

Before arriving in Beijing, Trump made his intentions plain, stating publicly that his first request to President Xi Jinping would be to create a more accessible environment for American businesses operating in China. The broader CEO delegation travelling with Trump largely represents firms with unresolved commercial issues in the country.

China’s foreign ministry responded with measured language, indicating Beijing’s willingness to expand cooperation and manage differences in the interest of global stability.

Trade Groundwork Laid in Seoul

While Trump was airborne, his chief trade negotiator Scott Bessent was already at work, holding roughly three hours of talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at Incheon Airport in South Korea. The discussions were aimed at preserving the trade truce reached last year, under which the US suspended heavy tariffs on Chinese goods while China stepped back from restricting exports of rare earth minerals critical to global manufacturing.

Further agenda items reportedly include potential US sales of aircraft, agricultural products, and energy to China, while Beijing is pushing for relaxed restrictions on semiconductor exports and chipmaking equipment.

High Stakes, Complicated Dynamics

Trump arrives at the negotiating table in a somewhat constrained position. Domestic courts have limited his ability to impose tariffs freely, and the ongoing Iran conflict has added inflationary pressure at home, raising the political stakes ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Xi, by contrast, faces comparatively less immediate pressure, giving China a degree of negotiating leverage. Analysts note the US arguably has more riding on the outcome of this summit than China does, given the need to demonstrate tangible results to American voters.

Beyond trade, the two leaders are expected to discuss the Iran situation, US arms sales to Taiwan, and broader technology and AI cooperation frameworks.

Reactions on the Ground

Ordinary Beijing residents expressed cautious optimism mixed with scepticism. Some in the city’s business community said they simply hoped the summit would yield practical policy improvements for trade.

Trump’s two-day programme in Beijing includes a formal reception at the Great Hall of the People, a visit to the Temple of Heaven, and a state banquet hosted by President Xi.

Source:

Reuters