Sep 23, 2026 · 4 min · 3 segments
The long-awaited Trump–Xi White House meeting is taking place tomorrow, Thursday, September 24th. The issues discussed there and the agreements reached will set the table for the future of US-China…
Ned SteinerHost
Today is Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, and I am Ned Steiner with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg.
As the residents of the White House and their staff prepare for the China State Dinner tomorrow night, U.S. and Chinese political leaders and trade representatives prepare for another meal, the much-awaited White House meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Likely, they will start with appetizers, an assortment of amuse-bouches of confidence-building measures.
President Trump plans to meet President Xi at Joint Base Andrews, a gracious gesture.
There will be a meeting of the First Ladies and a review of troops in the Rose Garden.
But Trump and Xi will have quickly worked up an appetite and will be eager to move on to the main course.
As far as trade matters go, Beijing will be looking for tariff relief, export control easing, and a lifting of investment restrictions.
Washington will press on access to rare earths, curbing industrial overcapacity, opening market access, and the broader balance of trade issue.
There is talk that the meeting will inaugurate the US-China Board of Trade, leading to a possible $30 billion in mutual tariff reductions.
But Thursday may be more of an a la carte buffet, with the leaders serving themselves small portions of a variety of different dishes.
A limited tasting menu with a handful of practical steps designed to lower tensions while leaving the toughest disputes for another day.
Safe room for potential chef specials, Sector-specific issues like AI, critical minerals, and advanced technology, both countries increasingly view supply chains, semiconductor batteries, and strategic materials through a national security lens, making these issues difficult to separate from traditional trade discussions.
With all of these dishes, though, they may not have room Dessert may be the state dinner itself, an opportunity to wine and dine and put aside the worries of the day.
That might be the sweet treat, the promise of more meals in the not-too-distant future.
Today is Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, and I am Ned Steiner with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg.
As the residents of the White House and their staff prepare for the China State Dinner tomorrow night, U.S. and Chinese political leaders and trade representatives prepare for another meal, the much-awaited White House meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Likely, they will start with appetizers, an assortment of amuse-bouches of confidence-building measures.
President Trump plans to meet President Xi at Joint Base Andrews, a gracious gesture.
There will be a meeting of the First Ladies and a review of troops in the Rose Garden.
But Trump and Xi will have quickly worked up an appetite and will be eager to move on to the main course.
As far as trade matters go, Beijing will be looking for tariff relief, export control easing, and a lifting of investment restrictions.
Washington will press on access to rare earths, curbing industrial overcapacity, opening market access, and the broader balance of trade issue.
There is talk that the meeting will inaugurate the US-China Board of Trade, leading to a possible $30 billion in mutual tariff reductions.
But Thursday may be more of an a la carte buffet, with the leaders serving themselves small portions of a variety of different dishes.
A limited tasting menu with a handful of practical steps designed to lower tensions while leaving the toughest disputes for another day.
Safe room for potential chef specials, Sector-specific issues like AI, critical minerals, and advanced technology, both countries increasingly view supply chains, semiconductor batteries, and strategic materials through a national security lens, making these issues difficult to separate from traditional trade discussions.
With all of these dishes, though, they may not have room Dessert may be the state dinner itself, an opportunity to wine and dine and put aside the worries of the day.
That might be the sweet treat, the promise of more meals in the not-too-distant future.
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