Politico: Trump Is Preparing A Sharp U-turn In Relations With China
- 8.05.2026, 18:56
Beijing may offer big deals in exchange for tariff concessions.
On the eve of US President Donald Trump's visit to China, the White House has escalated disagreements about the composition of the delegation and future negotiations. This was reported by Politico on May 7, citing sources in the US administration.
Trump said his meeting with Chinese leader Si Jinping is scheduled for May 14-15. Sources indicate that the White House has begun sending out invitations to big business leaders to "encourage private sector engagement with the United States' biggest economic rival."
Trump's team was considering a preliminary list of executives from about two dozen companies, the article said. But a number of officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, insisted the group was about half that size. Last-minute decision-making has irritated some businessmen, the publication noted.
The controversy surrounding the businessmen in the delegation is just one sign of how "delicate a balance" officials are trying to strike when it comes to commercial relations with China. Trump's eagerness to announce grand investment deals with foreign countries clashes with a growing consensus in Washington that Chinese investment poses a threat to national security.
According to one source, the administration's main "dove" regarding China is Trump himself; he is always focused on making deals with China. Beijing, for its part, is preparing a series of sweeping proposals for the summit, likely in exchange for concessions on U.S. tariffs and trade sanctions.
This runs counter to decades of policy by both the Republican and Democratic parties to curb Chinese private investment in the United States and vice versa. In this sense, the president's trip to Beijing "becomes a serious test: how willing is he to bet on business-oriented cooperation with the country's main economic rival - and risk political repercussions within it," according to the authors of the publication.
Inside the administration, some advisers are also pushing to maintain restrictions on Chinese imports, particularly cars, and to limit U.S. exports, including high-tech semiconductors, the article said.