Trump And Xi Unveil 'Historic' China Deal

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have concluded a two-day summit in Beijing with a package of bilateral agreements spanning trade, investment, agriculture, and critical minerals, in what the White House has described as a landmark outcome for American workers, farmers, and industry.

Trade and Investment Boards, Boeing, and Agriculture

As a centrepiece of the agreement, Trump and Xi chartered two new institutions: the US-China Board of Trade and the US-China Board of Investment. The Board of Trade will manage bilateral trade across non-sensitive goods, while the Board of Investment will provide a government-to-government forum for investment-related issues.

China approved an initial purchase of 200 American-made Boeing aircraft for Chinese airlines, the White House said, describing it as Beijing's first commitment to buy American-made Boeing planes since 2017. Trump also indicated that the deal includes 400 to 450 GE Aerospace jet engines, with a reported promise to purchase up to 750 planes in total, though neither Boeing nor China had officially confirmed the full figures.

On agriculture, China committed to purchasing at least $17 billion per year of US agricultural products in 2026, 2027, and 2028, on top of soybean purchase commitments made in October 2025. Beijing also restored market access for US beef by renewing expired listings for more than 400 US beef facilities, agreed to work with US regulators to lift remaining suspensions, and resumed imports of US poultry.

On critical minerals, China agreed to address US concerns regarding supply chain shortages related to rare earths including yttrium, scandium, neodymium, and indium. Beijing controls the supply chain for many of these materials, which are critical components of smartphones, cars, and weapons.

Geopolitics: Iran, North Korea, and a Washington Visit

Both leaders agreed that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, and agreed that no country or organisation should be permitted to charge tolls on its use. Trump and Xi also confirmed their shared goal of denuclearising North Korea.

The summit marked the first visit by a sitting US president to China since 2017. President Trump will welcome President Xi for a return visit to Washington this autumn.

Analysts have urged some caution, noting gaps between the two sides' readouts. The US statement referenced access to rare earths, while China's did not. The two sides emphasised different issues, and some specifics appeared in one country's readout but were not immediately confirmed by the other.

Sources:
White House Fact Sheet: President Trump Secures Historic Deals with China
CNBC: White House touts deals on soybeans and rare earths after Trump-Xi summit
Council on Foreign Relations: Making Sense of the Trump-Xi Summit