Washington has recently imposed a series of trade, technology, and visa restrictions on China, which Chinese analysts interpret as a strategic move to gain leverage ahead of the upcoming presidential summit in September 2026. However, these aggressive measures risk souring the political atmosphere before the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On Thursday, July 24, 2026, Trump confirmed that plans remain on track for Xi’s visit to the White House on September 24, with artificial intelligence (AI) expected to be a key topic of discussion. Despite this, tensions persist due to new US tech curbs and tariffs affecting major trading partners, including China.

The US has tightened exemptions for defense contractors sourcing critical minerals from foreign adversaries and expanded a Pentagon blacklist to bar more Chinese universities from receiving American military research funding. Concurrently, US officials have accused Chinese firms of illicitly using US AI models to siphon intellectual property.

This evolving dynamic unfolds as both powers seek to establish a new framework of “constructive strategic stability,” following agreements made during the May 2026 Xi-Trump summit in Beijing.

Sources