The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 24 was the central event of the Chinese leader's state visit to the United States on September 23–25, 2026. The talks have given the parties several new channels to discuss trade and the risks associated with advanced technology, but the available statements do not indicate a resolution of the key differences between the two countries. [1][2]
Trade: A Framework for Further Negotiations
The White House said the parties agreed to promote a more favorable tariff regime for non-sensitive goods worth a total of $30 billion in each direction. We are talking about the recommendations of the Trade Council, and not about the confirmed reduction of duties for all this volume: the report separately refers to the work of the group on barriers to agricultural market access. Among the listed American goods are agricultural products, fish and seafood, wood, cosmetics, and medical products; among Chinese imports, some consumer goods are named. [1]
In the same document, the White House announced the creation of an Investment Council to discuss investment opportunities and obstacles. This creates a permanent platform for work, but does not in itself mean that specific restrictions or disputes have already been eliminated. [1]
Separately, the Chinese agency reported that Xi and Trump discussed economic and trade relations and that the working groups would continue consultations. An analytical review by the Institute for the Study of War indicates that the trade truce was extended for another two months relative to the previous end date of November 10. Thus, the agreements helped to preserve the space for negotiations, but did not eliminate the contradictions around tariffs and market access. [2][4]
Advanced Technology Dialogue
According to the White House, the U.S. and China have established a two-way dialogue on the risks and benefits of so-called “superintelligence” and agreed to create a communication channel for incidents involving such technologies. The next round of dialogue is scheduled no later than November 2026. This is a step towards regular discussion of risks, but the published description does not indicate agreement on general rules for the development or application of technologies. [1]
In the Chinese message, the technological topic is described more broadly: it emphasizes the possibility of competition and cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. The language of the two sides is different, so establishing a dialogue should not be interpreted as agreeing on broader technology policy issues. [2]
Taiwan and the divergence of official accents
The reports of Washington and Beijing put the emphasis differently. The White House summary lists trade, investment, international crises and the fight against drug trafficking, but Taiwan is not mentioned. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Xi outlined Beijing's position on the issue of Taiwan and territorial integrity. The Taiwan Central News Agency also noted this discrepancy between the statements. These reports confirm that the topic was present in the Chinese presentation of the meeting, but do not in themselves show that the parties have changed their positions or reached an agreement on it. [1][2][3]
What to do next
The results of the September talks are more reasonable to assess as a limited reduction in the risk of immediate escalation and an attempt to establish regular contacts, rather than as a big bilateral breakthrough. The Trade Council, the investment platform and the dialogue on technological risks create mechanisms to continue the work. Their practical significance will depend on subsequent decisions — in particular, whether consultations will lead to specific changes in trade and how the parties will use the new communication channels.
The key test will be further consultations on trade and the planned technological dialogue. So far, the published statements fix the intentions and working formats, but do not allow us to conclude that the main disagreements between the United States and China have been resolved. [1][4]