Trump-Xi Beijing Summit Opens with $30 Billion Tariff Proposal and Public Taiwan Warning

Trump and Xi opened their two-day summit at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Thursday, with trade, Taiwan, Iran, and technology on the formal agenda. Reuters and WION, citing people familiar with administration objectives, report both sides are working toward a $30-billion-for-$30-billion tariff reduction structure covering non-sensitive goods under a Board of Trade mechanism that USTR Jamieson Greer first proposed in March; Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met for three hours in South Korea on Wednesday to lay final groundwork. A Chinese foreign ministry readout posted by spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Xi told Trump the Taiwan issue, if not handled properly, would produce clashes and even conflicts and put the bilateral relationship in great jeopardy. In opening remarks broadcast by CCTV, Xi asked whether the two countries could avoid the Thucydides Trap. Trump called the roughly two-hour-and-fifteen-minute closed session great, and both leaders declined reporters' questions on Taiwan.