US, China ramp up summit preparations
US President Donald Trump will greet China’s leader Xi Jinping in Washington next week, the first leader to receive that deference in Trump’s second term. Top diplomats spoke Thursday, possibly to finalize an agenda centered on trade, AI governance, and defense ties. Experts doubt major breakthroughs, and Asian allies worry Trump may soften US support for Taiwan for economic concessions.
Why it matters: The summit preparations bear directly on the briefing’s trade theme, as trade issues are central to the agenda and may influence US policy on Taiwan.