In Washington, President Trump has expressed his willingness to meet with Xi Jinping, China's top leader. Chinese officials and experts have indicated that such a meeting is essential for any significant reset of relations with the United States, particularly in light of Trump's assertive trade and foreign policy.
However, the process of arranging this meeting has proven to be slow and challenging. Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, visited Beijing this month as an informal representative of Trump, aiming to lay the groundwork for a presidential summit. Following discussions with China's Vice Premier for Economic Policy, He Lifeng, Daines suggested that a summit could occur by the end of the year, which is a slower timeline than many in Washington had anticipated.
Chinese Communist Party officials and government advisers have expressed surprise at Trump's rapid actions regarding tariffs and other international issues, leading to a cautious approach towards scheduling a summit. Tensions between Beijing and Washington may escalate this week as a new set of Trump's tariffs is set to take effect, potentially imposing broader trade limitations.
Chinese officials are hesitant to arrange a summit until both sides negotiate details in advance, including a lasting agreement that would extend throughout Trump's term. The Trump administration has yet to clarify what an acceptable deal would entail.
Wu Xinbo, the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, noted that the Chinese side believes the Trump administration has not yet determined an effective strategy for engaging with China. Wu emphasized that China is waiting for more constructive signals from the U.S. administration.
Some Chinese experts have mentioned the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly in September, although it remains uncertain if sufficient progress can be made by that time.
In response to inquiries about the summit's timing, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there was "no information to release at this time." Recently, He Lifeng held a video call with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, during which he expressed concerns regarding Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods.
China has retaliated against Trump's initial tariffs by imposing additional tariffs on American fossil fuels and agricultural products. Senator Daines's trip marked only the second congressional visit to China in over five years, with no other senators or representatives accompanying him.
Beijing has not reciprocated Daines's outreach; on March 16, it unexpectedly halted nearly all imports of American beef, which had previously amounted to about $1 billion annually. The expiration of export licenses for American slaughterhouses has effectively closed the Chinese market, resulting in a drastic reduction in shipments.
Daines highlighted the significant impact of this decision on U.S. ranchers and urged China to reverse it. However, the spokesperson's office at China's foreign ministry stated that it was "not aware" of the slaughterhouse license dispute.