How real are Trump’s China deals?
Semafor • • world
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump concluded his Beijing visit by praising US-China ties and inviting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the White House, while Xi promised greater openness to American CEOs.
- Skepticism remains about the tangible outcomes of the trip, with deals such as China’s agreement to purchase 200 Boeing planes falling short of market expectations and previous patterns showing China often fails to fully honor trade commitments.
- Discussions on critical issues like artificial intelligence cooperation, export controls, rare earths, and geopolitics including Taiwan and Iran arms shipments showed little substantive progress or clarity.
- Historical context highlights that past Trump-China trade deals largely fizzled, with investment commitment claims often exaggerated and actual results underwhelming.
- Despite doubts, the White House maintains that Trump’s visit achieved its goals of advancing trade fairness and commercial ties, portraying him as an effective dealmaker.