Trump will personally greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday, breaking the tradition of President‑to‑President receptions at the White House. The arrival ceremony on the State Floor will be followed by a brief review in the Rose Garden before a closed‑door conference where the two leaders will discuss trade and security.
The first‑lady Melania and Peng Liyuan will host separate engagements while the leaders focus on business. A 1,000‑guest state dinner on Thursday in the East Room will feature tech giants such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook and others, underscoring the economic stakes.
U.S. officials hint at possible tariff relaxation on non‑strategic goods, but they say no change is likely for export controls on rare‑earth minerals. A Treasury meeting in New York with Commerce Vice‑Premier He Lifeng will tackle AI and broader economic issues.
He Lifeng will arrive with a delegation to negotiate China’s rare‑earth stockpiles, a lever that has fueled the trade war since Trump’s tariffs. Talks could extend into Monday, with working‑level negotiations continuing behind closed doors.
After the dinner, Xi and Peng will share a private tea with the Trumps and tour the National Archives, before returning to Joint Base Andrews for departure. The next steps involve a formal review of the trade‑relief package and a follow‑up meeting in Washington to finalize any agreements.