Xi Begins US Visit With Rare Trump Welcome

Chinese President Xi Jinping began a three-day state visit to Washington, where President Donald Trump gave him an unusually elaborate welcome at Joint Base Andrews ahead of White House talks and a state dinner. The leaders were expected to discuss trade, rare-earth supplies, artificial intelligence, advanced chips, Taiwan, Iran and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while the two governments extended a trade truce due to expire Nov. 10 by two months. China’s rare-earth export controls have disrupted auto supply chains, prompting Ford to pause Explorer production for a week, and U.S. auto groups urged Trump to keep Chinese automakers out of the American market. Expectations for a lasting trade agreement or major breakthroughs remained low, and observers warned that any announced deals could take time to become concrete. The pageantry drew criticism from some U.S. Republicans over China’s policies and support for U.S. adversaries, while analysts said it was intended to preserve a fragile calm between the rival powers.