US-China trade truce extended as Trump greets Xi for high-stakes state summit

In a major political update, United States and China have officially agreed to extend their bilateral trade truce by two months, providing both superpowers with critical breathing room to negotiate a more comprehensive economic package.

The announcement served as a strategic diplomatic backdrop for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in the United States, where U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out a rare and striking red-carpet reception at Joint Base Andrews to kick off a high-stakes three-day state visit.

In a rare and striking display of personal diplomacy, President Donald Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews.

Complete with military honors and an overhead flyover by U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers, the reception underscored the critical, albeit tense, nature of relations between the world’s two largest economies.

Xi’s first trip to the US in nearly three years was not expected to deliver major breakthroughs, but Washington and Beijing could extend their 11-month trade truce.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they had reached a deal on an extension, as Trump greeted Xi personally at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after his arrival, underscoring the visit's importance.

Bessent noted that the extended timeline gives both superpowers breathing room to negotiate a more comprehensive economic package.

At the arrival ceremony, the leaders and their wives shook hands, spoke for a few minutes and stood for pictures as a military band played, cannons blasted and a B-1 military bomber flew overhead.

The welcome marked the first time in 11 years that a US president has greeted a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews, according to C-SPAN, which tracks presidential events. The last such reception was for Pope Francis in 2015 during Barack Obama's presidency.

"China and the United States should be partners, not rivals," Xi said in a written statement released by the Chinese embassy that made no reference to a trade deal.

While deep differences remain, the two countries are at odds on issues including export controls on rare-earth minerals and computer chips, China’s ties with Iran and US support for Taiwan.

While trade mechanics and agricultural commitments remain central to the discussions, the Washington summit is also expected to touch on geopolitical friction points, including regional security, advanced technology oversight, and global supply chains.

As reported, both administrations are aiming to leverage the extended truce to lock down long-term strategic stability.