With China and the US agreeing to extend a tariff truce that was set to expire in November – and US President Donald Trump giving his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, a personal welcome on the tarmac – analysts say the Chinese leader’s state visit has begun on a positive note.
The extension will run for two months through January 10, a sign the world’s two largest economies are willing to negotiate broader agreements and build positive momentum despite an increasingly heightened rivalry spanning a range of issues.
“While the two-month trade truce extension is shorter than observers originally expected, any extension is a positive sign that both sides can effectively manage their differences,” said John Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
The announcement came after Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held an unscheduled meeting at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on Wednesday morning, when the Chinese side proposed a “bigger deal” on trade, according to Bessent.
This came on the heels of an eight-hour discussion between the two on Sunday in New York, after which no major deliverables were unveiled despite reports of positive sentiment from both sides.
“We’re open to the idea of just continuing the Busan arrangement or examining the bigger deal,” Bessent said on Wednesday, referring to the tariff pause agreed last year in South Korea. “We’re fine with both.”
The Wednesday agreement also paves the way for further negotiations between both countries, as the two leaders are expected to meet on two more occasions this year.
Bessent said on Monday that the two sides had agreed to meet again in Shenzhen – the southern Chinese tech hub hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in November – and Xi is likely to attend the Group of 20 meeting to be held in Miami, Florida in December.
Furthermore, the welcome by Trump and his first lady marked a major shift in protocol, Gong said.
“Beyond showing respect for President Xi, Trump used the gesture to send a strong signal to the US political establishment that his China policy would break from that of his predecessors.”
Along with the US president’s personal greetings at the airbase – a courtesy not extended to Trump during his Beijing visit in May – the elaborate reception for Xi included a 21-gun salute fired by artillery pieces, a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honour cordon and a flyover by two B-1 Lancer bombers.
It was seen as an unprecedented display, never before granted to a Chinese president or even leaders of US allies.
Graham Allison, a former dean of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, said on social media the welcome indicated Trump’s “unparalleled respect” for the Chinese leader.
“President Trump is a master of the art of the show.”
Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University of China’s School of International Studies, said Trump’s appearance at the airport was exceptionally rare in US diplomatic history.
“The gesture highlights the deep respect he and his administration hold for Chinese leadership and the Chinese people, underscores the high priority attached to this summit and reflects widespread expectations across American society for stabilised relations, enhanced dialogue and expanded cooperation.”
The truce extension also fosters an overall positive atmosphere for future China–US interactions, Diao said.
“The extension preserves a crucial window of opportunity for both sides to advance ongoing dialogue and cooperation. The international community undoubtedly expects China and the United States to continue meeting each other halfway and ultimately forge a longer-term trade agreement,” he added.
However, the pageantry has sparked fierce political backlash in Washington, casting a shadow of uncertainty over bilateral relations ahead of the US midterm elections.
Senate Democrats struck a sharply critical tone hours ahead of Xi’s arrival, accusing Trump of giving the Chinese leader an overly warm reception while potentially weakening US leverage over Beijing on issues ranging from artificial intelligence to manufacturing.
“This is a really big deal,” said Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA officer and Pentagon official who said she had been involved in dozens of state visits.
She said it was “really difficult” to watch Trump “roll out the red carpet” and “fall over himself” to welcome Xi, arguing that economic security, national security and democracy should be at the centre of the visit.
Slotkin warned against any agreement allowing Chinese carmakers to manufacture in the US, and said she would be watching for tighter restrictions on shipments of advanced AI chips to China. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
