Xi Leaves Washington With Pageantry, a Two-Month Truce and Two Pandas
The state visit closed with tea in the Red Room and a tour of the National Archives, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution laid out for both leaders and their wives. Asked what had been accomplished, Mr Trump said “everything”, without elaborating, adding that “our farmers are going to be very happy”. The concrete outcomes are a trade truce extended by two months and two giant pandas bound for Atlanta.
Beijing wanted the truce extended to 2029 and got January, which is the clearest measure of what was and was not achieved. William Yang of the International Crisis Group was blunt: “This summit largely achieved symbolism and ritualism over substance. That is very clear.” Nothing moved publicly on Taiwan, on rare earths, or on the $14bn arms package Washington still holds in abeyance, and a pool reporter’s question about whether China would stop sharing intelligence with Iran went unanswered. Mr Xi’s own framing was loftier — the two must “explore a new approach for major countries to get along with each other” — and he has invited Mr Trump to Beijing in May. Watch whether the truce is extended again before it expires in January.