Trump: Xi Summit Reset for Mid-May as Trade Agenda Takes Shape
President says Beijing meeting scheduled for May 14–15 after Iran conflict delay, with agriculture and Phase One enforcement back in focus
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14–15, rescheduling a late-March summit that was postponed due to U.S. military operations tied to the Iran conflict.
The announcement — echoed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt — sets up a high-stakes bilateral engagement at a time of elevated geopolitical tension and ongoing efforts to stabilize U.S./China trade ties. “I’m pleased to announce that President Trump’s … long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15,” Leavitt said. When asked whether the new dates suggested the Trump administration expected the Iran war to wind down by May, Leavitt responded that the trip was only postponed for three or four weeks. Asked if there was a precondition that Iran would not be taken up during the meeting, Leavitt said Trump and Xi had discussed the rescheduling, and the Chinese leader understood that it was “very important” for the president to be in the US “throughout these combat operations.”
The White House press secretary also announced that Trump, along with his wife, first lady Melania, will host “Xi and Madam Peng Liyuan for a reciprocal visit in Washington, DC, at a later date to be announced this year,” suggesting a broader diplomatic push that could include multiple leader-level meetings in 2026.
If current plans hold, Trump and Xi could meet as many as four times this year, including potential sidelines at a G20 gathering in Miami and the APEC leaders’ meeting later in China — signaling an unusually active phase in U.S./China leader-level engagement.
In a social media post, Trump described Xi as “the highly respected President of China,” adding that “representatives” on both sides were “finalizing preparations” for the “historic” visit. “I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a monumental event,” he added.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
Trade groundwork already underway. Senior officials have begun laying the foundation for potential agreements. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese counterparts in Paris recently, emerging with what they described as a “work plan” for deliverables tied to the leaders’ summit.
Agriculture front and center. Multiple ag sectors are pressing for outcomes at the summit:
— Soybeans: Trump has floated additional Chinese purchases of 8 MMT, a key pressure valve for U.S. producers amid global uncertainty.
—Corn: U.S. and Chinese officials recently discussed potential China purchases of U.S. corn.
— Beef: The U.S. industry is seeking reinstatement of export licenses for facilities that lapsed last year.
— Poultry: Ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) issues continue to complicate trade flows and reentry protocols.
— Biotechnology approvals: U.S. officials are pushing for more predictable and timely Chinese approvals.
There is also renewed focus on enforcing elements of the Phase One trade agreement, particularly provisions governing the resumption of poultry exports after disease outbreaks.
Geopolitics and timing. The delay of the original meeting underscores how the Iran conflict is reshaping global diplomacy. While Leavitt emphasized the summit is not contingent on the war’s end, the administration has acknowledged the conflict’s expected four- to six-week timeline and its impact on scheduling.
Bottom Line: The mid-May Beijing summit is if it takes place is shaping up as a pivotal moment to test whether recent diplomatic groundwork can translate into tangible trade gains — especially for U.S. agriculture — amid a volatile geopolitical backdrop.
