The Chinese leader touched down in Maryland on Wednesday to initiate a series of meetings focused on avoiding a diplomatic breakdown. This 3 day engagement centers on maintaining an existing trade truce and includes a state dinner on September 24. During the welcome at Joint Base Andrews, Donald Trump greeted an official landing at the airfield for the first time.

The visit will involve discussions on AI, rare earth minerals, and agricultural purchases to extend a tariff reduction of $30B that expires November 10. While executives from Apple and Nvidia and General Motors CEO Mary Barra will attend the White House dinner, the lack of a corresponding delegation of Chinese corporate leaders suggests a low probability of new business contracts being signed.