Talks under pressure
The visit is the first by a US president to China since 2017, when Trump travelled to Beijing during his first term.
President Joe Biden did not visit China during his presidency.
The summit comes amid the Middle East conflict triggered after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliation against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The disruption has affected international trade, particularly global oil flows, adding urgency to the discussions between Washington and Beijing.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about 20% of global seaborne oil and a large share of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its near-shutdown since early March 2026 has triggered the largest oil supply shock in history, pushing Brent crude prices to peaks above $120 per barrel and keeping energy costs high.
Higher fuel prices have raised shipping, production, and transportation costs worldwide, slowing global merchandise trade growth to around 1.9% in 2026 (down from 4.6% in 2025), with the risk of further declines if the conflict drags on.
