US Chaotic Ahead of Xi Visit; Only Concrete Issue Is $30 Billion Tariff Relief

Less than six weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned September visit to the US, the American government's preparations remain chaotic, with no clear official or department taking the lead. The two sides are carrying out routine preparations without a clear coordination framework, and little progress has been made in finalizing deliverables for the leaders' summit. Because the meeting will be held in the US, the White House controls most of the protocol arrangements, venue, and external messaging, leaving Beijing with limited control over the summit's image and contingency management. During his visit to China in May, President Trump invited Xi to the White House on September 24, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently confirmed the visit would proceed as planned. This will be Xi's first state visit to the US since 2015. Neither side expects major substantive outcomes from the September summit, and the current problems focus on execution, logistics, and presentation. The slow pace of preparations largely reflects ongoing disagreements within Trump's inner circle over the tone and public presentation of the visit. Since 2026, China and the US have sought to stabilize bilateral relations, and the two leaders agreed in Beijing in May to build a constructive strategic stable relationship. Washington last month added dozens of Chinese companies to an entity list and banned the import and sale of newly produced foreign robotics equipment and power inverters. Beijing responded by sanctioning seven US entities and tightening export controls on drones and related technology. The recent series of tit-for-tat measures has tested the momentum toward a thaw in relations.