BGA China Adviser Eric Wang and Director Sam Overholt prepared an update for clients previewing the September 23-25 meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Context

  • Xi will visit the United States September 23-25 at Trump’s invitation, with the two leaders scheduled to meet at the White House September 24.
  • Senior U.S. and Chinese economic officials met in New York September 20, producing progress on commercial issues but continued deadlock on national security-linked disputes.
  • China enters the summit with a large trade surplus, reduced exposure to any single market and weakening domestic investment, while Washington wants Beijing to consume more and export less.

Significance

  • The summit is expected to extend trade momentum rather than resolve core security disputes, with a one-year extension of the Busan truce widely expected.
  • The most concrete deliverable is likely to be operationalizing a Board of Trade covering non-sensitive goods, with reciprocal lists and potential movement on U.S. agricultural purchases and selected tariffs.
  • Rare earths, AI, Iranian oil and Taiwan remain unresolved, underscoring the limits of any commercial progress reached at the leaders’ meeting.

Implications

  • Companies should expect lower near-term tariff risk if the truce is extended, but China-specific Section 301 exclusions are set to expire November 9, and policy risk will remain tied to U.S.-China negotiations.
  • Rare earths remain the sharpest compliance dispute, with the U.S. side saying magnet exports are still throttled and Beijing considering additional export licenses for U.S.-linked supply chains.
  • The broader geopolitical calendar — including China’s October plenum, APEC in November and the G20 in December — will shape whether summit momentum carries into late 2026.

If you have questions or comments, please contact BGA China Adviser Eric Wang at ewang@bowergroupasia.com or Director Sam Overholt at soverholt@bowergroupasia.com.

Best regards,
BGA China Team

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Advisor

Eric has over two decades’ experience in government affairs and public relations and currently serves as firm partner and managing director of Yuan Associates. He has worked with more than 80 clients in manufacturing, agriculture and food, consumer goods and service industries. Eric joined Yuan Associates in 2005 and become a partner and managing director in 2011. As managing director, he is responsible for comprehensive government affairs service for and management of clients. As a partner his responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s daily overall operations. Prior to joining Yuan Associates, Eric worked as an account manager for Euan Barty Associates ... Read More