The United States and China have agreed to extend their temporary trade truce by two months, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday, just as Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for a high-profile three-day state visit.
The extension pushes the deadline for their tariff pause from November 10 to January 10, preventing an immediate escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
Under the agreement, both nations have committed to scaling back tariffs and holding off on introducing new trade restrictions.
“I don’t know whether a bigger deal can be done. I don’t know whether we will just roll the current deal,” Bessent said during an interview on Fox News Channel, explaining that the brief extension provides additional time for dialogue during upcoming international summits scheduled in China this November and Florida in December.
Bessent finalised the extension during a meeting at the World Bank in Washington with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng. He also hinted at further progress during Xi’s stay, pointing toward potential upcoming deals in financial services and agricultural purchases.
The announcement coincided with a rare, highly symbolic greeting at Joint Base Andrews, where President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, directly on the tarmac.
Xi’s arrival featured full diplomatic pomp, including a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honour guard, military platoons, a performance of both national anthems, and a flyover by two B-1 bombers. It marks Xi’s first visit to the U.S. capital in over a decade.
“I think they appreciate it, tremendous people,” Trump said after returning to the White House ahead of scheduled bilateral talks and a formal state dinner.
In a statement released upon his arrival, President Xi framed the visit around mutual benefit: “Beijing and Washington should be partners, not rivals. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, and the two countries can contribute to each other’s success, thereby benefiting the wider world.”
