Trump and Xi meet amid shifting alliances

President Trump begins his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday facing a China that has become harder to isolate as U.S. allies seek greater room to maneuver between Washington and Beijing.

Xi arrives with full ceremonial honors

Upon arrival at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, Xi and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan were greeted by Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and a swarm of U.S. service members who rolled out a large red carpet.

China's trade surplus reaches record levels

China's global trade surplus is on pace to top one trillion dollars for a second straight year, reaching a record one point two trillion dollars for twenty twenty-five even as its exports to the U.S. dropped.

Trump's approach strains traditional alliances

Since returning to office, Trump's fights over tariffs, defense spending and personal spats have strained relationships with traditional allies even as he has pursued a more transactional relationship with Xi.

Canadian confidence in U.S. collapses

In Canada, the share of people who described the U.S. as a reliable partner fell from eighty-three percent in twenty twenty-two to thirty-five percent in twenty twenty-six, according to Pew Research Center.

German trust in U.S. foreign policy drops

In Germany, the share who said Washington considers other countries' interests when making foreign policy fell from sixty percent in twenty twenty-three to twenty-three percent.

Canada seeks closer ties with Europe

Canada this month was invited to be the first associate member of the European Union as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government seeks deeper defense ties with Europe and less reliance on the U.S.

Expert warns leverage requires unity

Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said America retains unmatched power but leverage requires a united front and there are a shrinking number of countries willing to follow America's lead.

“America retains unmatched power on the world stage, but leverage requires a united front and there are a shrinking number of countries willing to follow America's lead right now.”

China controls rare earth supply chain

China placed seven rare-earth elements under export controls last year. China accounted for more than seventy percent of global rare-earth mining and more than eighty-seven percent of refining and production in twenty twenty-four, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Rare earth shortage halts U.S. auto production

Ford halted Explorer production in Chicago for a week amid magnet shortages, while Japanese and European auto suppliers shut production lines awaiting materials from China.

Xi and Modi take steps toward détente

Xi visited India this month for the first time in seven years as the two countries took what Brookings senior fellow Tanvi Madan called baby steps toward stabilizing relations despite troops from both countries deployed along their disputed Himalayan border.

India-China trade reaches record high

Bilateral trade between India and China reached a record one hundred fifty-five point six billion dollars in twenty twenty-five, according to Chinese data, as Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to strengthen business and transport links.

Taiwan arms deal becomes bargaining chip

A fourteen billion dollar U.S. arms package for Taiwan has been awaiting Trump's approval for months. After meeting Xi in Beijing in May, Trump said he was holding the package in abeyance and called it a very good negotiating chip.

“very good negotiating chip”

Trade truce expires as rare earths loom

The current trade truce between the U.S. and China expires November ten. Rare earths were again on the table in weekend talks between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Bessent signals openness to new deal

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday after meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng that the U.S. was fine with either continuing the current truce or examining a bigger deal.

Iran tests Beijing's geopolitical reach

Iran tests whether China can turn relationships Washington lacks into geopolitical influence. The U.S. has spent decades trying to isolate Tehran while Beijing preserved economic and diplomatic ties, frequently buying Iranian oil.

Trump lacks coalition approach to global issues

Ryan Hass said there is no real coalition of countries interested in partnering with the U.S. on global issues, noting that Trump does not think in coalitional terms but in terms of power.