Independent Thinking

Author: Chatham House

Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.
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Language: en

Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics

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The Trump-Xi summit: What does the US want from China and will Trump get it?
Episode 35
Friday, 15 May, 2026

President Donald Trump brings a band of senior US business executives seeking trade deals to China for what is possibly the biggest bilateral summit of 2026. But what does the US hope to achieve? More sales of Boeings, beef and soybeans; an off-ramp from the US-Israel war on Iran; a sense of world pre-eminence; or all three? Our experts discuss whether Taiwan will end up paying the price for Chinese help in ending the Iran war, and whether the success of the summit really boils down to the chemistry between Trump and the world's other most powerful man, Xi Jinping. Host Bronwen Maddox discusses the visit and what it means with Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow with our Asia-Pacific Programme, and Laurel Rapp, director of our US and North America Programme. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Stephen Farrell. Chatham House's latest: Comment | Trump–Xi summit will be about managing US–China rivalry, not resolving it Comment | Rare earths are on Trump's agenda in China. But US electronic waste offers an untapped source at home Comment | Xi and Trump won't discuss China's growing nuclear arsenal Magazine issue | Spring issue of The World Today Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Audio | Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.