Trump departs Beijing after summit with Xi; no tariffs deal reached

President Donald Trump left Beijing on May 15 after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping that ended without a new tariffs agreement or announced breakthroughs on Taiwan, Iran or the broader trade fight. Trump described the talks as productive and said China had agreed to buy U.S. oil, Boeing aircraft and U.S. farm goods. Chinese state media cast the visit as the start of a framework for “strategic stability” between the two powers. Publicly, both sides emphasized better ties while leaving the hardest disputes unresolved. ### If there was no tariffs deal, what did the two sides actually announce? Trump said in a Fox News interview, cited by CNBC, that China had agreed to buy U.S. oil and would purchase 200 Boeing planes. He also said Beijing would buy U.S. agricultural goods, though neither side released contract values, delivery schedules or implementing documents before he departed. (usnews.com) Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said the two countries agreed to set up boards or councils on trade and investment, according to Bloomberg’s report of his briefing and China’s foreign ministry summary. Xi said the two sides’ economic and trade teams had produced “generally balanced and positive outcomes,” but the ministry statement did not spell out tariff changes or market-opening measures. (cnbc.com) ### What happened on tariffs during the summit? Trump said he did not discuss extending the existing tariff truce with Xi, Bloomberg reported. NBC News also reported that no decisions were made on tariffs during the visit, despite trade being central to the trip. (bloomberg.com) Reuters reported Trump left China with “no major breakthroughs” on trade after two days of meetings. That left in place the basic structure that has governed the relationship since last year’s truce, while negotiators shifted attention to follow-up mechanisms rather than a new top-level bargain. (bloomberg.com) ### What did Xi and Trump say about Taiwan? Xi used the meetings to warn that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict, according to Reuters and NBC News. China’s foreign ministry statement said the two sides should manage differences and improve communication, but it did not suggest any narrowing of their positions on the island. (usnews.com) Trump told reporters on the flight home that Xi said he opposed Taiwan independence and that Trump made “no commitment either way,” Reuters reported. NBC News said Trump also told reporters he had discussed a pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan in detail with Xi and would make a decision “shortly.” (usnews.com) ### What was China trying to put on the record? China’s foreign ministry said Xi and Trump agreed on “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability” and said that framework should guide ties for the next three years and beyond. Xi’s statement described competition “within proper limits,” manageable differences and continued economic engagement. (usnews.com) Reuters cited Da Wei of Tsinghua University as saying Beijing had now offered an alternative to the Biden-era framing of “strategic competition.” CNBC reported Xi’s side presented “strategic stability” as the headline outcome of the summit, even as the two governments published few concrete deliverables. (mfa.gov.cn) ### Did the summit produce anything on Iran? Reuters reported there was no tangible Chinese help to end the Iran war, even though the issue was part of the talks. NBC News said no decisions were made on Iran, tariffs or Taiwan, putting Iran in the same category as the other unresolved disputes Trump brought to Beijing. (usnews.com) The White House summary referenced a shared desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, and Trump said Xi showed interest in more U.S. oil purchases. But no joint plan, timeline or enforcement mechanism was announced before Trump departed. (usnews.com) ### What happens next after Beijing? Trump publicly invited Xi to visit the White House on September 24, CNBC reported, and Chinese state media noted the invitation. Reuters reported Wang Yi said Xi would visit the United States in the fall, though CNBC said Beijing had not confirmed acceptance of the September 24 date. (usnews.com) Working-level teams are expected to discuss the trade and investment boards described by Wang Yi, Bloomberg reported. CNBC also noted two other possible leader-level meetings later in 2026 — at the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November and the G20 in Florida in December. (bloomberg.com) (cnbc.com)