What Xi’s Washington Visit Means Amid Accusations, Grievances and Competition

In this paper, we discuss:

• Why the upcoming Trump-Xi summit is more likely to manage tensions than resolve them;
• How trade, tariffs and Taiwan remain central sources of US-China friction;
• Why competing approaches to AI regulation make a bilateral agreement difficult;
• Why domestic political pressures are encouraging both leaders to maintain short-term stability.

Download PDF: Xi Visit in Washington – September 2026