Trump extends trade ceasefire with China, welcomes Xi in Washington
Xi arrived in Washington ahead of a Thursday dinner with Trump, with the extended truce and seized F-35 parts on the agenda.
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UpdateThursday, September 24, 2026 at 10:40 AM ET
Trump says he and Xi have made tremendous strides on issues facing the two countries and are working toward a more balanced trade relationship. He adds that security, technology and artificial intelligence will also be on the agenda for the visit. Xi framed the visit around what he called cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, and manageable differences.
Trump has extended the trade ceasefire with China and welcomed Xi Jinping to Washington, with the two leaders set to speak at a state dinner at 7:55 p.m. Thursday.
Xi said his visit is sure to be fruitful with joint efforts, and that the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States has not changed.
China is holding sensitive F-35 parts that were diverted to Hong Kong after a UPS flight shipped a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door from an Australian F-35 toward the US in late May. The Pentagon is seeking their return, and the parts remained on the agenda as Xi arrived.
Senate Democrats pressed Majority Leader Thune for votes on China chip export bills, including the AI Overwatch Act, the Match Act and the Chip Security Act, as Xi arrived in Washington. China's foreign minister separately called for dialogue on the Strait of Hormuz dispute ahead of the talks with Trump, which were built around trade and cooperation.
The ceasefire extension and Xi's state visit mark a de-escalation after months of tension over tariffs and technology export controls, reducing near-term trade war risk. Treasury Secretary Bessent's openness to a larger deal beyond the temporary arrangement points to room for further negotiation, which investors are treating as a positive against the alternative of escalating tariffs hitting corporate earnings and supply chains.