Trump Leaves For China Visit Amid Iran Conflict, Trade And Taiwan Talks Expected
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Washington
- May 13, 2026
- 331
Donald Trump departed for an official visit to China on Tuesday night amid rising geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict and ongoing trade disputes between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump will remain in Beijing from May 13 to May 15. This marks his first visit to China since 2017.
According to reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump are scheduled to hold separate rounds of high-level talks on Thursday and Friday.
The discussions are expected to focus on several major international and economic issues, including trade tariffs, Taiwan, rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductor competition and the ongoing Iran conflict.
Top US Business Leaders Accompany Trump
Trump is accompanied by 17 leading American business executives during the China visit.
The delegation reportedly includes Elon Musk, Tim Cook and senior executives from Apple and Boeing.
However, Jensen Huang, chief executive of NVIDIA, is reportedly not part of the delegation.
Boeing Deal Worth ₹9 Lakh Crore Possible
Reports suggest the visit could pave the way for one of the biggest aircraft deals in aviation history.
China is reportedly considering the purchase of 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and several Boeing 777X widebody jets.
If finalized, the proposed deal could exceed ₹9 lakh crore in value.
Xi To Host Grand State Dinner
According to the White House, Xi Jinping will host a lavish state banquet for Donald Trump during the visit.
Such formal state dinners are considered among China’s highest diplomatic honours and are generally held at the Great Hall of the People.
Senior Chinese leaders, diplomats, business representatives and special guests from both countries are expected to attend the event.
Diplomatic experts believe the scale of the reception reflects the strategic importance China attaches to its relationship with the United States.
Xi Jinping had also hosted a special reception for Trump during his first China visit in 2017.
Four Major Issues Likely To Dominate Talks
Trade Tariffs
Trade tensions remain a major point of disagreement between Washington and Beijing.
Trump has repeatedly threatened steep tariffs on Chinese imports, while both countries are now believed to be exploring ways to stabilize trade ties and negotiate fresh agreements.
Taiwan And Arms Sales
Taiwan remains another sensitive issue in US-China relations.
Trump is expected to discuss an American arms package reportedly worth $11 billion for Taiwan. China strongly opposes US military support to Taiwan and considers the island part of its sovereign territory.
Rare Earth Minerals And AI Competition
Rare earth minerals are critical for electric vehicles, advanced chips and defence manufacturing.
China currently dominates global rare earth supply chains, while the US is attempting to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.
Competition between the two countries has also intensified in artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies.
Agricultural Trade
China remains one of the largest overseas markets for American agricultural products.
Following earlier tariff disputes, China reduced imports of American soybeans. The Trump administration is now expected to push for increased agricultural exports to revive trade opportunities for US farmers.
Iran Oil Dispute Adds Fresh Tension
Another key issue expected to dominate the talks is China’s continued purchase of Iranian oil despite US sanctions.
The Trump administration accuses China of indirectly supporting Iran economically by purchasing large quantities of discounted Iranian crude oil.
China, however, maintains that the purchases are essential for its energy security and insists it will not alter its policy under external pressure.
Experts say Iran has increasingly relied on oil exports to China to earn foreign exchange revenue despite Western sanctions.
Reports indicate that a major portion of Iranian oil exports has recently been routed to China, often through indirect or blended supply chains to avoid sanctions-related scrutiny.
The US is expected to press Beijing to reduce Iranian oil imports in order to increase economic pressure on Tehran during the ongoing regional conflict.