US Prepares AI, Trade Talks Ahead of Xi’s State Dinner with Business Leaders

Washington, Sept. 19 – As President Xi Jinping prepares to visit the United States, senior U.S. officials are laying the groundwork for intensive talks on artificial intelligence, trade rules, and export controls that will coincide with a state dinner at the White House.

The dinner’s invitation list combines diplomatic dignitaries with a roster of high‑profile tech executives: Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Dell’s Michael Dell, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Chipotle’s Jen Friedman and Apple’s Tim Cook. Additional American officials are expected to share the table, creating a rare intersection of policy and private‑sector expertise.

Both presidents are slated to address the assembled guests before the evening’s formal proceedings in the East Room. The dialogue is expected to focus on the so‑called “Busan truce,” a loosely defined trade agreement, and the potential for targeted tariff reductions on non‑strategic goods.

A senior official declined to specify which products would be affected, noting that the discussion is still at an exploratory stage. In parallel, conversations over mineral supply chains and export‑control restrictions are planned, with the United States signaling that any easing will be contingent upon verifiable Chinese commitments.

The broader schedule encompasses a military review, a bilateral meeting between President Trump and President Xi, and separate receptions for First Lady Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan. A private tea and a National Archives tour are set for Friday, marking the final phase of the visit before President Xi departs via Joint Base Andrews.

All eyes remain on whether the presence of these tech titans will translate into concrete policy outcomes, especially as the two nations navigate a complex landscape of competition and cooperation.