Trump and Xi meet as trade truce gets two-month extension

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting at the White House on Thursday as the two governments face unresolved disputes over trade, Taiwan, technology and the international role of China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the countries had agreed to extend their trade truce by two months, beyond its scheduled November 10 expiry, but the summit’s outcome remains unknown. The extension, announced after Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday, provides a temporary reprieve while leaving a longer-term trade arrangement unsettled. Bessent said the leaders could reach a broader agreement by January or extend the truce again. China had sought an extension through January 2029, while U.S. officials had suggested three to six months, according to one account. The two-month extension is shorter than either of those proposals. Both governments have reasons to avoid a breakdown, though their priorities differ. The United States has faced economic disruption from tariffs, while China is contending with a struggling domestic economy alongside strong high-tech exports.