Trump Pushes China Market Access During High-Stakes Xi Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his top priority during his state visit to China will be urging President Xi Jinping to open the Chinese market further to Western companies. Speaking aboard Air Force One through a social media post, Trump said he was traveling with some of America’s biggest business leaders for a three-day summit aimed at improving economic ties between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump described Xi as “a Leader of extraordinary distinction” and said he planned to make market access his “very first request” during their talks. The U.S. delegation includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Tesla chief Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, along with executives from Blackstone, BlackRock, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Qualcomm, Micron, Citi, GE Aerospace, and Cargill.

The U.S.-China summit is expected to focus heavily on trade tariffs, artificial intelligence, semiconductor restrictions, and tensions surrounding Taiwan. Analysts believe discussions between Trump and Xi could also help ease diplomatic deadlock connected to Iran and broader geopolitical issues.

This marks the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nearly a decade. Trump previously visited Beijing during his first presidential term. The latest trip comes after relations between Washington and Beijing deteriorated following the 2025 trade conflict and ongoing disputes over AI chip exports and military support for Taiwan.

Financial markets are closely monitoring the summit, particularly movements in the USD/CNY currency pair, U.S. stock indexes, and major technology shares such as Nvidia. Investors are hoping the meetings could lead to improved trade cooperation and reduced economic tensions.

Trump’s schedule includes a formal welcome ceremony, bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping, a state banquet, and additional diplomatic events throughout the three-day visit.